By Mark Aba
Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged the people of Edo State to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid, citing ongoing federal projects and interventions in infrastructure, electricity, healthcare, education and agriculture.
Shettima made the appeal on Thursday in Benin City during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council rally, where he highlighted projects and programmes undertaken by the Tinubu administration in the state.
The rally was attended by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo; Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma; former APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje; and other party leaders.
The Vice President said the Federal Government remained committed to addressing Edo State’s development needs, citing the ongoing dualisation of roads linking Ekpoma, Auchi and Okene, as well as emergency repairs on the Benin-Asaba highway and other major roads.
On electricity, Shettima highlighted the completion of the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben gas pipeline and the development of transmission infrastructure expected to add 600 megawatts to the national grid.
He also cited the commissioning of the Amukpe substation and solar mini-grids in Oloyan and Sule Camp as part of efforts to improve electricity access.
On healthcare, the Vice President listed the provision of radiotherapy and dialysis services at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, support for specialist medical institutions and interventions in 158 public health facilities across the state.
He commended Governor Okpebholo’s leadership, noting that President Tinubu had supported his administration’s efforts to drive development in Edo State.
Shettima urged residents to assess the Federal Government based on its achievements and ongoing projects, calling for continued support to sustain the administration’s programmes.
Speaking at the rally, Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, called on Edo State to deliver two million votes for President Tinubu in the January 2027 presidential election.
Yari said the President had demonstrated commitment to Edo State and the country through various development initiatives, adding that his administration had also made progress in tackling insecurity and increasing crude oil production.
He attributed the rise in crude oil production from about 1.2 million barrels per day to approximately 1.8 million barrels per day partly to security interventions in the Niger Delta.
The APC campaign director-general dismissed criticisms of the administration’s security efforts, maintaining that substantial resources and strategic measures had been deployed to protect lives, communities and critical national infrastructure.
He expressed confidence that Edo APC members and supporters would mobilise voters to meet the two-million-vote target.
Also speaking, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, expressed confidence in Tinubu’s re-election bid, saying the South-South region was prepared to deliver substantial support for the APC.
Akpabio described the region as an emerging stronghold of the ruling party, noting that all six states in the South-South were now governed by the APC.
He challenged other geopolitical zones to match the electoral support the region was projecting for the President.
The Senate President attributed the growing support for Tinubu to infrastructure development, improved security and increased financial allocations to state governments under the administration.
Earlier, Governor Okpebholo declared Edo State’s readiness to support Tinubu’s second-term ambition in the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
He urged Shettima to convey the state’s commitment directly to the President.
“Mr Vice President, the message is clear. I need you to take this message back to Mr President, that in Edo State, we are ready. January 16, 2027, is settled,” the governor said.
Highlighting the impact of the Federal Government’s policies, Okpebholo disclosed that about 15,000 Edo indigenes had benefited from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
He also credited the economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration with supporting ongoing infrastructure development and the regular payment of salaries and pensions in the state.
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