Okpebholo couldn’t deliver 2.5m Votes Pledge to Tinubu but Modest 131k in Edo APC Primary
Fresh questions are trailing Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo’s ambitious promise to deliver 2.5 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, especially after the APC presidential primary in the state produced just 131,096 votes for the president.
Governor Okpebholo, who doubled as the state returning officer, announced the primary results on Saturday, May 23, 2026, after collation from all 192 wards. President Tinubu polled 131,096 votes while his only challenger, Stanley Osifo, managed a solitary vote. The governor hailed the exercise as peaceful and a sign of strong support.
Hours later, the same governor doubled down on his earlier pledge, describing the 2.5 million target as “possible,” “achievable,” and “already settled” in Edo State. He claimed people were already “shouting 2.5 million votes on the streets” and pointed to federal projects and mobilisation as the magic formula.
Critics Cry “Daydream
”The huge disconnect between the primary figure and the general election promise has triggered widespread mockery across social media and opposition circles. Many Nigerians are asking how a state that produced roughly 131,000 APC primary votes hopes to deliver nearly 20 times that number in a contested national election.
Political observers and online commentators have labelled the pledge as political fantasy. Some pointed out that even total voter turnout in past Edo governorship elections has rarely approached such heights, let alone votes for a single candidate. Opposition voices, particularly from the PDP, described the claim as “overheating” and detached from reality.
One viral social media post asked: “Governor, is the 2.5 million coming from Edo or from dreamland?”Okpebholo’s defenders insist the primary only reflected accredited APC members, while the general election will attract a broader electorate motivated by infrastructure projects and federal support. The governor has repeatedly maintained that “it is settled” and that development efforts will convert sceptics into voters.
Edo State has historically been a battleground with strong opposition presence. President Tinubu’s performance in the 2023 election in the state was modest, making the sudden jump to 2.5 million votes a tall order even for loyal APC members.
As reactions continue to pour in, the governor’s bold assurance has become fodder for memes and late-night comedy, with many framing it as classic Nigerian political optimism or overpromise.
Whether Governor Okpebholo can bridge the massive gap between 131,096 and 2.5 million remains to be seen. For now, his declaration has left many wondering if it’s a statement of confidence or a political daydream.
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