Patience Ofure-Key, who once ran for governor in Edo State, has advised current Governor Monday Okpebholo to prioritize immediate governance and citizens' welfare rather than focusing on President Bola Tinubu’s reelection campaign.
Ofure-Key, who was the gubernatorial candidate for the Peoples Redemption Party in 2024, conveyed her message in a statement released on Thursday in Abuja.
Her remarks came in response to Governor Okpebholo’s recent declaration promising to secure 2.5 million votes for Tinubu from Edo State in 2027.
She emphasized that the governor should emphasize political performance instead of boasting about future electoral outcomes.
In her opinion, the focus should be on pressing issues such as security, job creation, infrastructure development, healthcare, and the overall well-being of the Edo populace.
“His attention should be directed towards how to reinforce trust with the electorate, rather than making superficial electoral promises,” she stated. “Governor Okpebholo must prioritize serving the people of Edo. This is his fundamental duty. History rewards those who govern with humility and integrity, rather than those who merely seek political recognition.”
Ofure-Key stressed the necessity for the governor to engage in actions that yield tangible governance results that will positively impact the current lives of citizens. She urged him to respect voters' autonomy, stating that elections are not to be perceived as a property to be transfixed under any political figure’s control.
She labeled the commitment of 2.5 million votes as undemocratic, insisting that the electoral rights belong solely to the people, not as a transaction in a politician's agenda.
“Edo votes cannot be sold or traded. They are not commodities to be bargained with,” she reaffirmed.
Ofure-Key questioned the governor’s strategy to achieve this proposed vote count, noting that in the last gubernatorial election, Okpebholo received 291,667 votes, whereas his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki, garnered 307,955 votes in 2020 and 319,483 votes in 2016.
“These statistics are significant as they reflect the genuine levels of voter engagement within Edo State,” she stated. “When any leader mentions '2.5 million votes' as if it's assured, it raises eyebrows among Edo people about whether this is mere political noise or a false promise masking performance failures.”
She concluded by encouraging all Nigerians to reject the commercialization of their votes in the upcoming 2027 elections and to stand firm against coercion or intimidation. “It is the collective responsibility of citizens to advocate for transparency and select leaders who exhibit vision, competence, compassion, and integrity,” she urged.
“Use your vote wisely— it stands as your voice, your power, and your right.”
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