Nigerian governor says ‘even if they kidnap us all there’s no vacancy in Aso Rock’

 

Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, has accused opposition parties of deploying insecurity to tarnish the perception of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

Okpebholo spoke on Tuesday at the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign for the local government elections in Edo south senatorial district.

The governor said promoting insecurity would not guarantee the opposition seats in the senate, house of representatives, or the presidency, insisting that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock.

“There is no vacancy in Aso Rock. They can even kidnap all of us — yes, there is no vacancy in Aso Rock,” he said.

“What is happening today is the handiwork of the opposition.

“They have failed. Have they not failed? Is it by kidnapping children? Then who are you going to govern?

“There will be nobody for you to govern. So let them give us peace so that we can rule well.”

According to NAN, Okpebholo insisted that the president has done more for the country than his predecessors.

Okpebholo stated that the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy can be seen and felt in various projects across the state.

The governor commended persons who emerged as candidates in the party’s primary election ahead of the forthcoming council polls.

He said their victories would signal the possibility of delivering the 2.5 million votes pledged to Tinubu in the 2027 poll.

Addressing the gathering, Jarrett Tenebe, APC chairman in Edo, described the party as the only viable political platform in the state.

He urged the candidates to take the message of the governor’s developmental strides to the nooks and crannies of the state and replicate them in their respective local government areas.

The highlight of the event was the official unveiling of the party’s Edo south candidates by the governor, including Ogbeide Ihama for senate, Paddy Iyamu for Oredo federal constituency, and Omorede Igbinedion for Ovia federal constituency, among others.

The Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) has fixed July 11, 2026 for council polls across the 18 LGAs.