By Adesakin Adefemi
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has declared that President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid is “as good as won,” insisting the president’s policies and record in office will speak louder than any opposition challenge in 2027.
Okpebholo made the comments Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s _Politics Today_, where he dismissed suggestions that key opposition figures could derail Tinubu’s second-term ambition. “His work, his policies, are speaking for him,” the governor said.
He singled out former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and former minister Rotimi Amaechi, saying all three “have actually failed this country in the past.” When pressed specifically on Atiku, Okpebholo argued that the former VP played a major role in governance during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
Asked if he believed the Tinubu administration had outperformed the Obasanjo government, Okpebholo replied, “yes, of course,” adding that the current administration’s economic and security decisions have set a new benchmark.
The governor also linked rising insecurity to political sabotage ahead of the 2027 polls. He alleged that kidnappings and killings are being sponsored by opposition elements seeking to discredit the federal government and sway public perception.
“You know that it is the evil people that are creating this insecurity. The more the president tries to stop them, because the election is coming, they are sponsoring them to come out,” he said. “The opposition is using them just to make sure that people will say this president is not doing well.”
Okpebholo maintained that Tinubu “must win” re-election and waved off concerns about an opposition coalition. Referencing scripture, he said, “The Bible says they must gather, but yeah, they will scatter,” signaling confidence that any alliance would collapse before the vote.
He dismissed the notion that Obi or Amaechi could pose a credible threat, pointing to what he described as their records in office. “Do you know that these people have actually failed this country in the past?” he asked, urging voters to judge leaders by results rather than rhetoric.
The governor’s remarks add to the growing political temperature as parties begin early mobilization for 2027. The Independent National Electoral Commission has not released a full election timetable, but maneuvering among major players is already intensifying nationwide.
