The Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Blessing Albert Ebhodaghe, has threatened to remove commercial drivers from motor parks in the council area if they fail to wear caps or other political materials bearing the logo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ebhodaghe issued the warning during a visit to motor parks in Ekpoma, the council headquarters, where he told commercial drivers that wearing political materials belonging to opposition parties would not be tolerated.
The council chairman described his directive as a “standing warning”, insisting that drivers who violated it could lose access to the parks regardless of their personal relationship with him.
“On no account will I see any driver put on a cap or any material that does not belong to APC,” Ebhodaghe said.
“Any driver who violates the directive will not benefit from the park and could be ordered to leave, regardless of his relationship with me,” he added.
The chairman was subsequently seen personally distributing APC-branded caps to drivers at the park, apparently to enforce the directive he had just issued.
He specifically warned the commercial operators against wearing caps or displaying any other political materials associated with parties other than the APC.
Ebhodaghe linked the directive to Governor Monday Okpebholo’s political mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly the governor’s pledge to deliver 2.5 million votes from Edo State to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Okpebholo has repeatedly made the 2.5 million-vote pledge, including at a May 2026 APC presidential primary in the state.
The development comes less than two weeks after Governor Okpebholo inaugurated the chairmen and vice-chairmen of Edo’s 18 local government areas and urged the council bosses to work towards delivering 2.5 million votes for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Ebhodaghe urged the drivers to support both Tinubu and Okpebholo, arguing that the administration’s road projects had improved their businesses and made movement between Edo and other commercial centres easier.
He cited the improved road network as one of the reasons the drivers should support the government, saying they could now travel to places such as Onitsha and return to Edo State to continue their daily activities.
The council chairman further appealed to the drivers to support the administration, stressing that they also had a role to play in helping the governor fulfil his 2027 political target.
