Against the backdrop of Governor Monday Okpebholo's promise to deliver 2.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, Barrister Henry Idahagbon, has warned that the target may not be realised unless simmering divisions within the party are addressed.
DAILY POST reports that Idahagbon, a former two-time commissioner in the administrations of Lucky Igbinedion and Adams Oshiomhole, described the 2.5 million-vote target as a tall dream if aggrieved party members are not reconciled.
Idahagbon, who is the current commissioner representing Edo, Ekiti and Ondo states at the Federal Civil Service Commission, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Benin City.
He said that no matter how popular the governor might be, he could not single-handedly deliver 2.5 million votes for President Tinubu, noting that election is a game of numbers.
Idahagbon said, "I commend the governor's doggedness in campaigning for the party, but I want to advise him to put his house in order. In my opinion, the party is not sufficiently united. This may not go down well with some people, and I may be wrong, but that is how I see it.
"There are many political leaders in the state who feel alienated by the government. Some have been in politics for years, have contested elections and have credibility with the people.
"As the leader of the party in the state, the governor should bring everybody together. He should unite all the forces and put them together to work towards a common goal. At the end of the day, the glory will be his.
"I recall that during the inauguration of the presidential campaign council, Wike said that if you are in the campaign council and you don't win your state for the President, don't celebrate and say we have won.
"I am sure the governor is aware that many political leaders feel sidelined by the government because of the influence of a few sycophants.
"Politics is a game of numbers. The more people you bring together, the merrier. There are people who will vote for the party because of the governor. There are others who will vote because of me, and there are those who will vote because of other political leaders.
"The governor should bring all these people together. That is how the party can achieve its target of 2.5 million votes. No matter how popular you are, you cannot produce 2.5 million votes alone.
"When Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was governor, he used to campaign by telling people that every market woman had one vote, every individual had only one vote. Everybody has just one vote on election day. The governor must therefore bring people together and strengthen the party at the grassroots."
Idahagbon, a former chairman of Egor Local Government Council, said that as a member of the party and a former candidate who had participated in elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, he considered it his responsibility to advise the governor on how best to secure electoral victory.
He, however, commended the governor for his developmental strides but urged him to increase the pace of development and intensify efforts, noting that the people, like Oliver Twist, would always ask for more.
"Former Governor Godwin Obaseki made promises to the people but failed to fulfil them. He spent eight years in office without delivering on the promises he made.
"The governor should understand that achieving 2.5 million votes requires more than political mobilisation. He must first strengthen the party and ensure that the people feel the impact of his administration.
"Edo is my state, and the APC is my party. I pray that we will be able to mobilise our people to deliver 2.5 million votes for President Tinubu in 2027. That is why I am in town, to contribute my own effort to the mobilisation process.
"You can see that, for the past four weeks, the governor has been traversing the state, mobilising party faithful. Let us hope that we will be able to achieve the target," he added.
Okpebholo can't deliver 2.5 million votes for Tinubu if Edo APC remains divided - Party chieftain