By Paul Ezenwa

Governor Monday Okpebholo’s transformation agenda is rapidly reshaping the political landscape in Edo State, with residents across communities increasingly identifying with his vision of securing an unprecedented 2.5 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

For many Edo residents, the story is no longer about promises; it is about visible projects, renewed infrastructure and a government they can see and feel.

A compelling example is the reconstruction of the long-neglected Okpagha – Amufi Road and its adjoining network of about 10 communities, stretching from the Agbor Park axis to the Benin-Auchi Road Bypass. Once synonymous with dilapidation, erosion and hardship, the corridor has been transformed into a more accessible route, reconnecting residents to the wider city and reducing the burden of travelling through Ramak Park.

Importantly, the intervention goes beyond road reconstruction. The project includes three retention ponds, in addition to other natural discharge ponds, to provide effective flood and erosion control. Inhabitants around areas that were iniatially ravagwe by flooding were duly compensated and relocated to make way for the robust flood control works, underscoring the administration’s comprehensive approach to tackling both the transportation and environmental challenges that had plagued the community.

But beyond the concrete and asphalt lies a deeper transformation: “hope has returned”. Residents say businesses that had shut down are reopening, new commercial activities are emerging and property values are rising. One resident recalled purchasing land for about ₦150,000 two years ago that is now reportedly valued at approximately ₦4.5 million, an illustration, in her view, of how infrastructure is unlocking economic value and restoring confidence in the area.

For communities that endured years of infrastructural neglect, the message is becoming increasingly clear: performance is creating political confidence. Residents who once watched their neighbourhoods deteriorate now speak of renewed connection, revived commerce and improved living conditions. Their appreciation for the governor is consequently extending beyond the immediate projects to a broader belief that continuity and political stability are necessary to sustain the emerging development trajectory.

That sentiment is finding expression in growing support for President Tinubu. Residents interviewed in the area explicitly linked their support for the President to the federal backing they believe has enabled Governor Okpebholo to deliver on his development agenda. As one resident put it, supporting the “son” requires supporting the “father,” underscoring the emerging political narrative of continuity between the Edo State and Federal Governments.

Mrs. Azubuike, reflecting on the road’s transformation, recalled a time when the area was virtually impassable, with residents battling erosion, potholes and muddy roads simply to reach their homes. Today, she says, that painful chapter is giving way to a new reality. In an emotionally charged endorsement, she argued that the road itself has become a powerful campaign message for the administration and its political allies.

For Pa Gabriel Erabor, a landlord who has spent more than two decades in the community, the transformation represents evidence of a governor who keeps his promises. His endorsement reflects a sentiment increasingly echoed by residents who see the administration’s projects as tangible proof that Edo can move forward when development is matched with political continuity.

The emerging political calculation is therefore straightforward: where performance is visible, support follows. Governor Okpebholo’s administration is seeking to translate the goodwill generated by projects such as the Okpagha – Amufi Road reconstruction into a broader movement for continuity, with the ambitious 2.5million vote target for President Tinubu serving as a rallying point for supporters of the administration’s development agenda.

For Edo residents who say they have witnessed their communities move from neglect towards renewal, the 2027 choice is increasingly being framed not merely as an election, but as a decision about the direction of development. With Governor Okpebholo championing a vision of a transformed Edo and seeking to mobilise the state behind President Tinubu, the emerging message from the grassroots is one of continuity, partnership and sustained development: keep the momentum, consolidate the gains and give the transformation a chance to go further.