Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, on Friday inaugurated the newly elected chairmen and vice chairmen of the state’s 18 local government areas and charged them to deliver 2.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
Okpebholo gave the directive during the inauguration at the Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City, urging the council bosses to combine political mobilisation with grassroots development, shun corruption and justify the confidence reposed in them by the electorate.
He described their emergence as the beginning of a new chapter in grassroots governance and development in the state.
The governor said the July 2026 local government elections were free, fair and credible, adding that the turnout reflected growing confidence in democracy and his administration.
He urged the council chairmen to ensure that government programmes reached communities across their respective areas.
Okpebholo said the renewed commitment to local government autonomy under Tinubu had placed greater responsibility on the elected council bosses.
“The overwhelming victory recorded by our party at the recent polls is a call for more work,” the governor said.
“I charge you to go and work for the people, complement the development efforts of the State Government and ensure that the impact of government is felt in every community.”
He described public office as “a sacred trust and an opportunity to serve the people”.
According to him, the legacies of the council chairmen would be measured by the lives they touched, problems they solved and how they used the opportunities entrusted to them.
The governor also charged the council bosses to strengthen the APC’s political structures at the grassroots and mobilise support for Tinubu and his Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said the task required hard work, unity and sustained engagement with the people.
“The best way to earn their continued support is through good governance and visible development,” Okpebholo said.
“The people have entrusted you with leadership. Go and justify that trust. Serve with humility, lead with integrity and work with passion.”
The governor expressed optimism that the new council administrations would bring progress, peace and prosperity to Edo residents.
The newly elected chairmen subsequently subscribed to the Oaths of Office and Allegiance after a roll call.
Speaking on behalf of the council chairmen, the Chairman of Oredo Local Government, Gabriel Iduseri, thanked the governor for the confidence reposed in them.
Iduseri said the chairmen recognised the responsibilities that came with their mandates.
“We pledged our commitment to provide purposeful, transparent and people-oriented leadership at the grassroots,” he said.
“We are ready to key into the Project SHINE Agenda of the governor and the Renewed Hope of the President, and to bring development to our various local governments.”
The 18 chairmen and their deputies were elected during the July 2026 local government elections conducted across the 192 wards in Edo State.
The inauguration was attended by APC members, government officials, party leaders, friends, well-wishers and other dignitaries.
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