Edo Youths Warn Amaechi: ‘You’re No Longer Welcome in Our State,’ Urge ADC to Keep Him in Leash
ADC Amaechi under fire
By Editor
BENIN CITY — Edo youths have issued a warning to former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, declaring that he is no longer welcome in Edo State following his reported remark that only a madman would vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
The warning was issued by Professor Ikhimwin Osagiede, President of the Edo Consultative Interest Alliance (EDOCIA). The ethnic group condemned the statement as provocative and disrespectful to the political choices of Edo people, whom it described as sophisticated.
The group said Amaechi’s remark amounted to an unwarranted generalisation about voters in the state, insisting that citizens have the constitutional right to support any political party or presidential candidate of their choice without being insulted or ridiculed.
The group called on the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the political platform associated with Amaechi and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to caution the former governor and his associates against making statements capable of provoking tension and undermining peaceful political engagement in Edo State.
According to Prof Ikhimwin, the party must ensure that its members exercise restraint in their public utterances and avoid actions that could set the ADC against the interests and sensitivities of Edo people.
“We urge the ADC to keep Amaechi and his ilk in leashes to avoid putting themselves in trouble and setting the party against the communal interest of Edo people,” Osagiede said. He warned that inflammatory political rhetoric could heighten tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing that political parties and their leaders have a responsibility to promote peaceful competition rather than create divisions among citizens.
“We urge the ADC to refrain from thoughtless statements that could induce crisis before and after the 2027 elections. Political disagreements are normal in a democracy, but insulting people because of their electoral preferences is unacceptable,” he said.
The EDOCIA president further declared that, in view of Amaechi’s reported remarks, the people of Edo State would no longer welcome him to the state until he apologised and demonstrated genuine remorse.
Osagiede maintained that Edo people should not be subjected to derogatory labels because of their political choices, adding that every eligible voter has the right to make an independent decision at the ballot box.
He urged political leaders and their supporters to conduct themselves responsibly as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections.
The group called for mutual respect among political stakeholders, warning that statements capable of alienating communities or provoking confrontations could undermine the peaceful atmosphere required for credible elections.
Osagiede insisted that political parties seeking support in Edo State must respect the people and their democratic rights, regardless of their party affiliations or preferred candidates.
