Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has begun a round of visits to communities across the state, aiming to understand their most urgent needs and provide real solutions—long before election season begins. The goal, according to the governor’s team, is to break the cycle where politicians show up only when they need votes.
Speaking in Benin City, the governor’s Special Adviser on Political Mobilization and Engagement, Hon. Eugene Utubor, explained that the governor is determined to change how things are done. He said that during their campaign, they saw many communities left behind—places with no clean water, no public services, and no signs of government support. That experience, he noted, made it clear something had to change.
Utubor shared that he had just returned from several communities in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area where he listened to residents speak openly about their struggles. He said they were suffering from a lack of water and public services, problems that have been building up for years. He emphasized that the governor is not waiting for another campaign season to start fixing those issues.
He added that the team’s efforts over the past week have focused on identifying key problems and beginning the process of improving roads, water access, and opportunities for people to grow their skills and livelihoods. Utubor believes that real development can only happen when government and communities work together closely.
As the visits continue, political changes are also picking up speed in Edo State. Utubor pointed out that several lawmakers from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have already joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), giving it a majority in the state house of assembly. He said the reason is simple: the governor is performing, and people want to be part of something that’s working.
Utubor claimed that many PDP leaders are abandoning their party to join the APC, and he predicted that in the coming weeks and months, the PDP might disappear from the state entirely. According to him, the infighting and lack of direction within the PDP have pushed many to rally around Governor Okpebholo, who they see as someone delivering results.
He described what’s happening as a “political tsunami” and said more defections are on the way as people unite around the governor’s mission to rebuild the state and meet the needs of everyday citizens.
