The Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Blessing Albert Ebhodaghe, has warned commercial drivers in the council against displaying political materials belonging to opposition parties at motor parks.
Ebhodaghe issued the warning during a visit to a motor park in Ekpoma, where he distributed caps bearing the logo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to commercial drivers.
In a video circulating online, the council chairman linked the directive to efforts to mobilise support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said drivers found wearing caps or displaying materials associated with other political parties could be denied access to the motor park.
Ebhodaghe also cited road projects in the state as part of the reasons for supporting the administration, arguing that improved roads had made it easier for commercial drivers to travel to destinations such as Onitsha and return to Edo for their businesses.
The council chairman’s mobilisation effort is connected to Governor Okpebholo’s stated target of securing 2.5 million votes from Edo State for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
The directive has, however, drawn criticism from civic group MonITNG, which called for clarification on whether the instruction was authorised by the state government.
The group argued that motor parks are public spaces and workplaces and should not be used to compel political allegiance.
It remains unclear from the reports reviewed whether Governor Okpebholo or the Edo State Government specifically authorised Ebhodaghe’s directive regarding political materials at the motor park.
