Okpebholo: Kidnappings Won’t Create Vacancy in Aso Rock
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has urged those he accuses of sponsoring rising insecurity across Nigeria to stop their actions and allow the administration of President Bola Tinubu to concentrate on governance and development programmes.
Speaking on Tuesday at the flag off of the All Progressives Congress campaign for local government council elections in the Edo South Senatorial District in Benin, Okpebholo alleged that insecurity had suddenly increased and was being orchestrated to tarnish the leadership of the president.
He stated that promoting such insecurity would not secure positions for the perpetrators in the Senate, House of Representatives or the presidency.
“There is no vacancy in Aso Rock. They can even kidnap all of us—yes, there is no vacancy in Aso Rock. What is happening today is the handiwork of the opposition. They have failed. Have they not failed? Is it by kidnapping children? Then who are you going to govern? There will be nobody for you to govern. So let them give us peace so that we can rule well,” Okpebholo said.
The governor added that President Tinubu had done more for the country than his predecessors. He noted that the effects of the removal of the fuel subsidy had become visible through various projects across the state.
Okpebholo commended candidates who emerged from the party primaries for the forthcoming council elections. He said their successes would indicate the capacity to deliver the 2.5 million votes pledged to President Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
The state APC chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, described the party as the only viable option in Edo. He urged the candidates to spread the message of the governor’s developmental achievements to all parts of the state and to replicate similar progress in their local government areas.
The high point of the event was the official unveiling of the party’s Edo South candidates by the governor. These include Ogbeide Ihama for the Senate, Dr Paddy Iyamu for the Oredo federal constituency and Omorede Igbinedion for the Ovia federal constituency.
Public records show that insecurity has remained a major national challenge. Data compiled in the Global Terrorism Index for 2026 indicate that terrorist attacks in Nigeria rose by 43 per cent in 2025 to 171 incidents, while deaths from such attacks increased by 46 per cent to 750, marking the highest toll since 2020. Conflict monitoring sources have also documented continued large scale kidnappings and banditry linked violence in several regions during 2025 and the early part of 2026, including the May abduction of 39 pupils and seven teachers from schools in Oyo State and dozens of children in Borno State.
The fuel subsidy removal of 2023 has been credited by the presidency and the Nigeria Governors Forum with boosting revenues available to states. This has supported salary payments, cleared arrears in some states and funded infrastructure and social programmes, with visible projects reported in various parts of the country including Edo.
Local government elections in Edo are scheduled for 11 July 2026. The APC has concluded its primaries and is mobilising support, with the 2.5 million vote pledge for 2027 forming part of broader party efforts in the state.