A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Barrister Kenneth Imansuagbon, has alleged that Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, is misleading President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with a promise to deliver 2.5 million votes for him in the 2027 presidential election.
Imansuagbon, a former governorship aspirant, also claimed that the ADC was gaining ground in Edo State and would challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) across the state, particularly in Edo Central Senatorial District.
He spoke at an enlarged ADC senatorial meeting in Ewohimi, Esan South-East Local Government Area, where candidates for the 2027 State and National Assembly elections were unveiled.
Representing the party’s national leader and former Edo State Governor, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, Imansuagbon said the reported 2.5 million-vote target was unrealistic.
“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 said.
The ADC chieftain attributed the party’s growing support to what he described as dissatisfaction with the APC-led administration, citing insecurity, economic hardship and poor road infrastructure among the concerns of residents.
He further declared that the ADC was positioning itself to challenge the APC in the 2027 elections, while expressing support for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition.
“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.
Imansuagbon, who described Atiku as prepared for the presidency, said the former vice-president could, in his view, address some of the challenges confronting the country.
“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,” he said.
Recalling his journey from Benin City to Ewohimi, the ADC chieftain said deteriorating road conditions had increased travel time between the two locations.
“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,” he said.
On a viral video in which Edo APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, was reported to have made remarks referencing an AK-47 rifle, Imansuagbon said the ADC would rely on voters and their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) rather than intimidation.
“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,” he said.
Also speaking, Edo State ADC Chairman, Tony Alile, urged security agencies to examine the reported remarks, insisting that eligible citizens had a constitutional right to participate in elections without intimidation.
Alile said the party’s response to the APC would be through the ballot, describing the PVC as a lawful instrument of democratic participation.
“Nobody can discourage or stop voters from coming out to exercise their franchise. It is their civic responsibility,” he said.
The meeting also featured the unveiling of ADC candidates for the 2027 general elections and the defection of members of the APC, New Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the ADC.
Alile urged the new entrants and existing members to maintain unity and intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the elections.
Party leaders present included Hon. Sylvester Ewanehi, Hon. Braimoh, Chief Emmanuel Ihiahi, Stella Ali, ADC Edo Central Senatorial candidate, Hon. Herberta Okonofua and Engr. Barnabas Odion.
