By Etop Ekanem

The Coalition for Tinubu-Okpebholo-Nigeria has identified Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area as a critical factor in delivering the 2.5 million votes promised by Governor Monday Okpebholo for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election.

The coalition said the council area remains one of the largest and most influential voting blocs in Benin City, with a track record of shaping electoral outcomes through strong grassroots mobilisation.
National Coordinator of the coalition, Amb. Prescious Topa, stated this after reviewing voting patterns across Egor, Oredo and Ikpoba-Okha local government areas.

According to him, Ikpoba-Okha’s numerical strength and cohesive political structure have consistently placed it at the centre of electoral victories in the Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency.
His words, “Over the years, election outcomes in this constituency have been largely influenced by grassroots strength, voter mobilisation and political structure.

“Ikpoba-Okha, by virtue of its population and unity, has remained decisive. Even when it does not produce the candidate, its support often determines the winner.”

Topa also dismissed claims of any zoning arrangement between Egor and Ikpoba-Okha for the House of Representatives seat, insisting that the constituency has always operated an open and competitive system.

He noted that since the return to democracy in 1999, candidates from both local governments have freely contested elections without any formal or informal agreement on rotation, adding; ‘There has never been any written or unwritten zoning arrangement between Egor and Ikpoba-Okha.
“From 1999 till date, the seat has been contested openly, with winners emerging through party primaries and voter preference.”
He added that historical trends show that electoral success in the constituency is largely driven by grassroots acceptance rather than political concessions.
According to him, there have been instances where candidates from one local government enjoyed massive support from the other based on political strategy, not zoning.
Topa stressed that attempts to frame the constituency’s political dynamics around rotation were inaccurate and misleading.
His words, “The reality is that elections here are determined by open contest, grassroots strength and voter alignment—not zoning,” he said.
He further noted that recent electoral outcomes underscore the importance of fielding candidates with strong local appeal and mobilisation capacity.
According to him, parties that ignore voter dynamics risk poor performance at the polls, while those that prioritise grassroots connection stand a better chance of success.
Topa advised political stakeholders, particularly within the APC, to focus on electability, unity and credibility in candidate selection ahead of future elections.
He said: “To maximise victory, the party must present candidates with broad-based appeal, credibility and strong grassroots connection. A candidate who resonates with youths, women, families, and who has a proven record of empowerment, will naturally attract widespread support.”
He added that presenting a widely accepted and unifying candidate would strengthen public trust and significantly improve the party’s chances of securing electoral victory in the constituency.