Okpebholo: There Is No Vacancy in Aso Rock Despite Rising Insecurity

Okpebholo: There Is No Vacancy in Aso Rock Despite Rising Insecurity

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has alleged that certain individuals are sponsoring insecurity in parts of Nigeria in a bid to distract President Bola Tinubu and undermine his administration.

Okpebholo made the remarks during the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign for the forthcoming local government council elections in Edo South Senatorial District, where party leaders and supporters gathered to unveil candidates for the polls.

The governor claimed that recent spikes in insecurity, including cases of kidnappings and violent attacks, were not coincidental but allegedly orchestrated by political opponents seeking to discredit the current administration.

He further declared that such actions would not yield political gain, insisting that no amount of instability would alter the political structure at the national level.

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

Okpebholo added that promoting insecurity would not secure electoral victories for any group, warning that those behind such actions risk worsening the situation for ordinary Nigerians.

“There is no vacancy in Aso Rock. What is happening today is the handiwork of the opposition,” he said.

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“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,” he added.

The governor also defended the performance of President Tinubu’s administration, saying the government has delivered more than its predecessors, particularly in economic reforms and infrastructure development.

He cited the removal of fuel subsidy as one of the key policies whose impact, according to him, is already visible in development projects across Edo State and other parts of the country.

Okpebholo also praised candidates who emerged from the APC primaries for the upcoming council elections, expressing confidence that their victories would contribute to the party’s broader political goals ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said the state chapter of the APC was targeting strong electoral performance, including what he described as a pledge of 2.5 million votes for President Tinubu in the next general election.

Also speaking at the event, the Edo State APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, described the party as the only viable political platform in the state and urged candidates to consolidate on the governor’s development agenda.

He called on them to take the government’s achievements to grassroots communities and ensure wider political support across local government areas.

The event also featured the formal unveiling of APC candidates for Edo South, including Ogbeide Ihama (Senate), Dr Paddy Iyamu (Oredo Federal Constituency), and Omorede Igbinedion (Ovia Federal Constituency), among others.

The development comes amid rising political rhetoric in Edo State ahead of local government elections, with parties intensifying campaigns and making competing claims over governance performance and national political direction.

Okpebholo: There Is No Vacancy in Aso Rock Despite Rising Insecurity