The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is operating under a mandate of absolute, unyielding loyalty to Monday Okpebholo, according to Emperor Jarret Tenebe the state Chairman.
Tenebe said the party’s submission to the governor is akin to a “truck without brake, gear or sense,” implying a readiness to follow Okpebholo’s direction without question or hesitation.
The Chairman made the comments in Benin City during an empowerment programme organised by the pro-Tinubu group, the City Boy Movement. His remarks were explicitly tied to preparations for the upcoming 2027 general elections, where he asserted that the entire state machinery had already “settled everything” concerning President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Tenebe’s vivid description of the party’s allegiance has since become a focal point of discussion within the state’s political landscape. He clarified that this seemingly reckless posture is a deliberate alignment with Okpebholo’s leadership and strategic direction. “Our loyalty to the governor is total,” Tenebe stated emphatically. “We are like a truck with no brake, no gear and no sense. Whatever the governor tells us to do, we can’t argue because he has all the special advisers and assistants to guide him. When he sends us on an errand, we simply move, no brake, no gear, no sense.” He went on to liken the party’s movement to a powerful, descending vehicle: “If you have ever seen a truck descending without control, you know how powerful it can be. That’s what we are because we have no brake, no gear, and no sense.”
This unbridled motion was used by Tenebe to underscore the party’s confidence in delivering a massive mandate for the President. Tenebe specifically quoted Governor Okpebholo as guaranteeing 3.5 million votes from Edo State for President Tinubu in 2027. This audacious claim, made years ahead of the election cycle, suggests an aggressive, high-stakes strategy being deployed by the state APC leadership. According to Tenebe, the party is so dedicated that there is no need for external convincing or political maneuvering. “I want to let the City Boys know that Edo State has already settled everything for our president,” he declared. “So even before your arrival and before the minister began telling us what the president has done for the nation, we don’t need to be convinced… we’ve settled everything for 2027.”
Tenebe’s comments position Governor Okpebholo as the undisputed orchestrator of the state’s APC agenda, with the party structure mobilised to execute his vision with extreme prejudice and unwavering obedience. The declaration serves as a powerful message to both internal dissenters and opposition parties that the APC in Edo is a cohesive, centrally-controlled unit focused solely on delivering electoral success for the national leadership. The event, which was meant to empower members of the pro-Tinubu movement, has ultimately become a platform for Tenebe to cement the narrative of Okpebholo’s total control and the party’s pre-emptive commitment to the 2027 presidential ticket.
