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The Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Blessing Albert Ebhodaghe, has come under scrutiny after directing commercial drivers operating in motor parks within the council area to wear caps or other materials associated with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a video circulating on social media, Ebhodaghe said he visited Onitsha Park to issue what he described as a “standing warning” to drivers, linking the directive to political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The council chairman referenced Governor Monday Okpebholo’s publicly stated target of mobilising 2.5 million votes in Edo State for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
“The Governor of Edo State, he promised the President Bola Tinubu 2.5 million in the 2027 general election that the whole world is going to see,” Ebhodaghe said.
He added that his council was “totally behind” the governor’s political mobilisation effort.
Ebhodaghe subsequently told drivers not to wear caps or materials associated with other political parties while operating at the parks.
The chairman also indicated that vehicles whose drivers failed to comply could face restrictions at the parks, adding that he intended to personally monitor compliance and contact park leadership where necessary.
Ebhodaghe sought to connect the demand for political support with infrastructure projects undertaken by the government, arguing that improved roads had benefited commercial drivers by making it easier for them to travel and earn their livelihoods.
The remarks have attracted criticism from civic organisation MonITNG, which called on both the council chairman and Governor Okpebholo to clarify whether the state government authorised the directive.
The group argued that commercial drivers should not be compelled to display support for a political party as a condition for using public facilities or conducting their businesses.
The controversy comes shortly after Okpebholo inaugurated the chairmen and vice chairmen of Edo’s 18 local government areas on September 4. At that event, the governor urged the council officials to strengthen grassroots political structures and mobilise support for Tinubu and the APC ahead of 2027.
There is, however, an important distinction: the available reporting establishes that Okpebholo has publicly pushed the 2.5-million-vote mobilisation target, but it does not establish that the governor specifically instructed Ebhodaghe to compel commercial drivers to wear APC caps or deny non-compliant drivers access to motor parks. SaharaReporters said it remained unclear whether Okpebholo or the Edo State Government authorised that particular directive.
The incident has consequently raised questions about the boundary between party mobilisation and the administration of public facilities, particularly where citizens’ access to their places of work could potentially be tied to displays of partisan affiliation.
