2027: Okpebholo Unveils APC Presidential Campaign Council, Directs Grassroots Mobilisation Across Edo
View of Campaign Council members
By Arit Mbeh
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has inaugurated the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2026/2027 Campaign Council, directing members to take the party’s mobilisation campaign to every ward, polling unit and community across the state.
Okpebholo, who chairs the council, gave the directive on Wednesday during the inauguration, saying sustained grassroots engagement would be critical to the APC’s campaign ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He charged members of the council to work as a united team and maintain direct contact with the people, insisting that the campaign must not be restricted to party leaders and political office holders.
The governor specifically called for the involvement of youths, women, traders, traditional institutions and other stakeholders in the mobilisation effort.
He also directed the council to effectively communicate the programmes and achievements of the APC-led administration while listening to the concerns, expectations and aspirations of Edo residents.
Okpebholo urged members to maintain an issue-based and peaceful campaign, warning against utterances or actions capable of creating divisions within the party or threatening the peace of the state.
Former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, who is a co-chairman of the council, commended Okpebholo’s emphasis on grassroots engagement.
Oshiomhole urged campaign council members to look beyond existing APC members and reach out to residents who are not currently members of the party.
He said: “Those who are not members of the party are Nigerians and Edo people. They are our members. Our task is to motivate them and bring them into our fold.”
Also speaking, APC Edo State Chairman and co-chairman of the council, Jarrett Tenebe, described the campaign structure as a team of experienced party members assembled to drive the APC’s mobilisation across the state.
Tenebe charged members to work collectively and ensure that campaign activities reach the wards and polling units, assuring them of the party’s support in discharging their responsibilities.
The Director-General of the council and former Edo South Senator, Matthew Urhoghide, said the APC must take its message to the “nooks and crannies” of Edo State.
Urhoghide said the 2027 election would ultimately be conducted at the polling-unit level, urging members to prioritise grassroots mobilisation and engage residents outside the APC.
Former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Pius Odubu, similarly charged members to see their appointments as a call to duty rather than a ceremonial assignment.
Odubu urged them to expand their outreach beyond their immediate political constituencies and political supporters, stressing the need for broad-based engagement across the state.
The APC had earlier constituted the 2026/2027 campaign structure with Okpebholo as Chairman, Oshiomhole and Tenebe as Co-chairmen, and Urhoghide as Director-General.
Hon. Orobosa Omo-Ojo JP was appointed Director of Media, the same position he occupied while serving as Director of Media for Senator Monday Okpebholo’s 2024 governorship campaign.
Other dignitaries at the inauguration included Deputy Governor Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa; Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Yekini Idiaye; Senator Neda Imasuen, representing Edo South Senatorial District; Joe Ikpea; Edo Central APC chieftain, Gen. Cecil Esekaigbe; Edo APC Deputy Chairman, Sylvester Aigboboh; and the party’s Secretary, Lawrence Okah.
With the inauguration of the campaign council, the APC has formally commenced its grassroots mobilisation drive in Edo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
