Amid reports of a threat allegedly made by Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo against Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the Igbo community in Edo and Delta States has begun rallying support for Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement released yesterday, the Coordinator-General of the “Igbo Unity Forum,” Chief Ekene Okpara, said the group’s decision was triggered by the current state of the economy and the governor’s alleged remarks following Obi’s recent visit to Benin City.
Okpara expressed disappointment over the worsening economic situation under the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, saying Nigerians “are facing the most difficult times in recent history.”
He disclosed that the forum has launched a campaign to deliver at least five million votes for Obi, regardless of the political party he chooses to run under in 2027.
“We will not forget the governor’s alleged statement insisting that Obi must inform him before visiting Edo State. That statement alone has strengthened our resolve to mobilise across the country and the diaspora,” he said.
Describing Governor Okpebholo as a “meddlesome busybody,” Okpara urged him to focus on governance rather than engaging in actions that could damage his reputation.
The forum also appealed to residents of Edo and Delta States to join forces to ensure Obi’s success in the next general elections, while calling on President Bola Tinubu to urgently address the failing economy and the deplorable state of infrastructure across Nigeria.
