2027: Akoko-Edo Group Warns Okpameri Against Political Deception, Backs Obaro

A political advocate and founder of the Akoko-Edo Political Project, Blessed Hope, has congratulated Rt. Hon. Yekini Idiaye on his emergence as Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, describing him as a political son and representative of Akoko-Edo Constituency I.

In a statement, Blessed Hope, however, urged the Okpameri people of Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency to be cautious about what he described as attempts to use the Speaker’s emergence to influence their political decision ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He alleged that the recent political development surrounding the leadership of the Edo State House of Assembly could be used as a strategy to persuade Okpameri voters to abandon what he described as their broader political interests and support the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency.

According to him, the emergence of Idiaye as Speaker should not automatically translate into electoral support for the APC at the federal constituency level.

“While I congratulate Rt. Hon. Yekini Idiaye, the newly sworn-in Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and member representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, my representative, I want to appeal to the Okpameri people not to sacrifice their long-term political interests because of temporary political developments,” he said.

Blessed Hope argued that the 2027 contest for the Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency should be determined by the candidates’ capacity, programmes and commitment to the people rather than ethnic calculations or the emergence of an individual from a particular community into a political office.

He particularly urged voters to consider Hon. Rasak Idowu Obaro, the candidate of the New Democratic Congress (NDC), whom he described as the “last man standing” for those seeking what he termed a fresh political direction for Akoko-Edo.

He also mentioned Paul Johnson Afagase of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as another major contender, while insisting that the electorate should carefully assess all candidates before making its choice.

The political advocate further questioned the political implications of the APC's internal arrangements in Akoko-Edo, particularly following the party's 2026 primary elections.

Available reports show that Chief Oladele Bankole-Balogun, popularly known as Oteniete, was endorsed by APC leaders in Akoko-Edo as the party's preferred candidate for the House of Representatives seat. The same meeting also endorsed candidates for the two State House of Assembly constituencies, including Donald Okogbe for Akoko-Edo II.

Blessed Hope questioned why political stakeholders could not maintain what he described as continuity within the Assembly leadership arrangement, particularly given that Okogbe secured the APC ticket to seek another term.

He argued that the argument that a first-term lawmaker cannot become Speaker or principal officer of a State House of Assembly is not supported by political precedent, pointing to examples from other states.

However, the central thrust of his argument was that the people of Akoko-Edo should not allow the 2027 election to become merely a contest of political inducements, ethnic sentiment or party loyalty.

He called on Okpameri and the wider Akoko-Edo electorate to demand concrete commitments from candidates on development, representation, infrastructure, education, healthcare, employment and economic empowerment.

“The only option is for Akoko-Edo people to be wise and look beyond political deception. We must ask every candidate what he intends to do for our people and hold whoever emerges accountable,” he stated.

He further urged voters to learn from political developments in other parts of the country, arguing that electoral decisions should be based on the long-term interests of the people rather than short-term political calculations.

On Afagase, available reports indicate that he left the APC after losing the party's 2026 House of Representatives primary to Bankole-Balogun and subsequently secured the ADC ticket to contest the Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency seat in 2027.

The statement therefore urged voters to examine the competing political platforms and candidates independently rather than assuming that the emergence of an Akoko-Edo politician in a leadership position automatically settles the wider political question facing the constituency.

Blessed Hope concluded by calling on the people of Okpameri and Akoko-Edo to remain politically vigilant and participate actively in the 2027 electoral process.

“Okpameri and Akoko-Edo must wake up. We must rise above selfish political interests and choose leaders based on competence, character, capacity and the ability to deliver. Akoko-Edo must be great again,” he said.

Yekini Idiaye, who has represented Akoko-Edo I in the Edo State House of Assembly and previously served as Deputy Speaker, has had a notable legislative career. He was among the lawmakers who moved into the APC in 2025, when the party gained majority status in the Assembly.

The political development has further intensified interest in Akoko-Edo ahead of the 2027 elections, with the House of Representatives contest expected to attract significant attention as voters weigh the candidates and the competing political parties.