By Simeon OSAJIE
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Barrister Kenneth Imansuaghon, on Saturday said Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, is deceiving President Bola Tinubu with the promise of delivering 2.5 million votes for him in the 2027 presidential election, insisting that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would suffer defeat in the state.
Imansuaghon, a former governorship aspirant, said the ADC was confident of defeating the APC in Edo State, particularly in Edo Central Senatorial District, because, according to him, the electorate had become dissatisfied with the performance of the APC-led governments.
He spoke at an enlarged ADC senatorial meeting in Ewohimi, Esan South-East Local Government Area, where candidates for the State and National Assembly elections in the district were unveiled.
Representing the party’s national leader and former Edo State Governor, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, Imansuaghon declared: “We want President Tinubu to know that Okpebholo is deceiving him. The 2.5 million votes promised Tinubu is not feasible. Okpebholo will be defeated because the people are with us. Nobody can rig our election.”
He attributed the growing support for the ADC to what he described as the failure of the APC administration to address insecurity, hardship and poor infrastructure, arguing that Nigerians were yearning for a change of government.
“The ADC will win the 2027 election, and Atiku Abubakar will be the next President because the APC has failed Nigerians. People are tired of the suffering in the land, tired of poor road infrastructure and tired of insecurity,” he said.
Recounting his experience on the journey from Benin City to his Ewohimi community, he added: “It took me over five hours to travel from Benin to my village, a journey that used to take just 45 minutes under the PDP administration.”
The ADC chieftain, who described former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the most prepared presidential candidate for the 2027 election, said the former Vice President was better positioned to rescue the country from its present challenges.
“Atiku Abubakar is the most prepared candidate for the presidency and is ready to rescue Nigerians and give hope to the people. He will return Nigeria to its lost glory. The man who can deliver the goods is Atiku and Amaechi,”.
He also urged Edo voters to reject the APC, insisting that the large turnout at the meeting reflected growing dissatisfaction with the ruling party.
On the controversy surrounding the viral video in which Edo APC chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, reportedly made remarks referencing AK-47 rifles, Imansuaghon said the ADC was not intimidated by threats, stressing that the party would rely on voters’ support and their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to challenge the ruling party.
“What we have is not guns. They have said they have AK-47, but we have the people and our PVCs. If they think they can rig the election, they are living in a fool’s paradise. Nigerians will be ready to defend democracy and protect their votes,” he said.
Also speaking, Edo State ADC Chairman, Tony Alile, assured party supporters that no individual could discourage eligible voters from exercising their constitutional rights, while calling on security agencies to examine the reported AK-47 remarks.
“Nobody can discourage or stop voters from coming out to exercise their franchise. It is their civic responsibility. It is not in our Constitution that a private citizen can brandish a machine gun, which he mentioned as AK-47. I believe I am not the only person who saw that video. The law enforcement agencies have also seen it, and at the appropriate time, they will invite him for questioning,” Alile said.
Alile, however, maintained that the ADC was prepared to confront the APC politically through the ballot, describing the PVC as a more powerful weapon than any firearm.
“I want to assure the good people of Edo State that the weapon ADC has is 200 times bigger and smarter than the AK-47 the other man mentioned, and that weapon is called the PVC. If you are tired of hunger and suffering in the land, I don’t need to tell you to use your PVC as your weapon against this government that has no heart,” he stated.
He urged party leaders across the wards and local government areas to intensify grassroots mobilisation, saying all hands must be on deck to defeat the APC in 2027.
The meeting also witnessed the formal unveiling of ADC candidates for the 2027 general election and the defection of members of the APC, New Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the ADC.
The defectors were received by Alile, who called for unity and commitment among members as the party intensifies its mobilisation ahead of the elections.
Party leaders at the meeting included Hon. Sylvester Ewanehi, Hon. Braimoh, Chief Emmanuel Ihiahi, Stella Ali, ADC Edo Central Senatorial candidate, Hon. Herberta Okonofua, and Engr. Barnabas Odion.