2027 Election: Edo Will Deliver 3.5m Votes for Tinubu — APC Chairman Tenebe

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, has said the party is working towards delivering 3.5 million votes to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

Tenebe stated this during an interview in which he spoke on preparations for the party’s congresses in the state, the unity within the APC, and efforts to strengthen the party’s structures ahead of the polls.

Tenebe expressed confidence that the exercise would be smooth and strengthen the party’s structures in the state.

On the party’s projection for the 2027 presidential election, the APC chairman insisted that delivering 3.5 million votes for Tinubu was achievable.

“It is very feasible. We have carried out voter analysis and discovered that Edo has about three million registered voters. Many of them reside outside the state,” he said.

Tenebe noted that the party was engaging Edo indigenes living in other states and encouraging them to return home during elections to exercise their voting rights.

He added that the party was also strengthening its grassroots structures while engaging members of opposition parties, including the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party, many of whom had reportedly shown interest in joining the APC.

“We are serious about the 3.5 million votes. In fact, we could surpass that figure. During the last presidential election, we did not secure 25 per cent for the President in Edo. We intend to correct that in 2027,” Tenebe said.

Responding to criticisms that providing logistics for supporters to return and vote could amount to inducement, he maintained that such mobilisation was part of legitimate political engagement.

“Mobilising supporters is not vote buying. Campaigning involves engagement and encouragement. If people are registered in Edo and choose to return home to vote, that is their civic right,” he said.

Tenebe also dismissed concerns that the defection of opposition members to the APC could weaken Nigeria’s democracy, stating that it was not the responsibility of the ruling party to sustain opposition parties.

“The constitution guarantees freedom of association. If individuals or parties choose to join the APC, we will welcome them,” he said.

While acknowledging the economic hardship faced by Nigerians, the APC chairman said there were signs of improvement, expressing confidence that the policies of the Federal Government would yield positive results over time.