NEWS
Esan West Council Chairman in Edo State, Albert Ebhodaghe, Under Fire Over Alleged APC Dress Directive for Motor Park Drivers
The Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Blessing Albert Ebhodaghe, has come under criticism following allegations that he directed commercial drivers operating from motor parks within the council to wear caps or other materials associated with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The controversy followed the emergence of a video circulating on social media in which Ebhodaghe was heard addressing commercial drivers at the Onitsha Park and issuing what he described as a “standing warning” concerning political support for Governor Monday Okpebholo and President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.
In the video, the council chairman linked the directive to Governor Okpebholo’s stated target of securing 2.5 million votes for President Tinubu in Edo State in the 2027 presidential election.
“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.
“By the grace of God, we are totally behind him. We are going to deliver him, come 2027.”
Ebhodaghe said he had been moving around the town to sensitise and warn commercial drivers and other residents about supporting the governor and the president, while also connecting the political mobilisation to infrastructure projects being undertaken by the state government.
“Because if the road is not good, the driver cannot go. Am I correct? If the road is not good, you cannot apply anything. You cannot even find your daily bread,” he said.
“So, because the road is good today, you can go to Onitsha and come back. You can do what you need to do for the day.”
The chairman subsequently appeared to direct drivers operating from the park to refrain from wearing caps or other materials associated with political parties other than the APC.
“I wrote on no account to not see any driver put on his cap or any material that does not belong to the party,” he said.
“Any park I see anybody putting on another cap… there will be no friend to this vehicle.”
He further indicated that he intended to personally monitor compliance with the directive and report any violations to the leadership of the motor park.
“I will come here with a mobile phone,” the chairman said, adding that he would also contact the park chairman.
The remarks have triggered criticism from civic group MonITNG, which called for clarification from both Ebhodaghe and Governor Okpebholo over whether the directive was authorised or endorsed by the state government.
According to the group, motor parks serve as public spaces where commercial drivers and other citizens conduct legitimate economic activities, and should therefore not become places where individuals are compelled to demonstrate political allegiance.
“If the report is accurate, it raises serious questions about the use of public spaces for political purposes,” MonITNG said in a statement posted on X on Wednesday.
The organisation argued that commercial drivers should not be required to display political allegiance as a condition for accessing a motor park or conducting their businesses.
MonITNG also called on Governor Okpebholo to clarify whether he authorised or supports the directive attributed to the council chairman.
The group said that if the governor did not authorise the directive, he should publicly distance his administration from it and ensure that residents are not denied access to public facilities on the basis of their clothing or political expression.
The development has also drawn attention to the broader political mobilisation taking place at the grassroots in Edo State ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The controversy comes less than two weeks after Governor Okpebholo inaugurated the newly elected chairmen and vice chairmen of Edo State’s 18 local government areas on September 4.
During the inauguration ceremony, the governor urged the newly elected council leaders to strengthen political structures at the grassroots and mobilise support for President Tinubu and his Renewed Hope Agenda.
He also tasked the council chairmen with working towards Edo State’s collective target of delivering 2.5 million votes for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
The remarks attributed to the Esan West council chairman have therefore placed renewed focus on the line between political mobilisation by elected officials and the use of public facilities for political activities, particularly where access to those facilities could potentially be affected by an individual’s political expression.
As the controversy continues, attention is now on whether Ebhodaghe will provide further clarification on the directive and whether the Edo State Government will publicly state its position on the reported instruction.