The political atmosphere in Edo State is heating up as the All Progressives Congress (APC) issues a stern warning to members of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s cabinet — any commissioner who refuses to wear the Tinubu-branded ‘Asiwaju cap’ to Executive Council meetings risks immediate suspension from the party.
The directive, which has stirred reactions across the state, was reinforced by the Edo APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, who described the governor’s order as a simple act of party discipline and loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Tenebe insisted that defiance would not be tolerated within a party working to strengthen its unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Anyone who refuses to wear the cap as directed by the governor will be suspended. It’s a matter of discipline and loyalty,” Tenebe declared during a television interview.
He explained that the APC in Edo had pledged to deliver 3.5 million votes for President Tinubu in the next election, adding that every member of the party especially political appointees must show visible support for the president’s leadership.
“If you were appointed under the APC, your loyalty to the president should never be in doubt,” he said. “Wearing the Asiwaju cap is our symbol of unity and allegiance. Those complaining about it are not true party members. In Edo, it’s simple — no Tinubu cap, no Exco.”
Governor Okpebholo first issued the controversial instruction on October 14, during the swearing-in of new commissioners and the inauguration of state commissions and boards. At the event, he urged his cabinet members to express visible support for President Tinubu through party-branded outfits, emphasizing that the president’s backing was instrumental to his rise to power.
The governor reportedly warned that any commissioner who disregards the order would be barred from attending subsequent Executive Council meetings. His administration, he noted, expects loyalty and alignment with the values of the ruling party at both the state and national levels.
Since the announcement, opinions have been divided among political observers in Edo. While some see the move as a harmless show of solidarity with the president, others criticize it as a form of political coercion that undermines freedom of choice within the party structure.
However, the Edo APC leadership insists the measure is necessary to promote party unity and discipline ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested 2027 election.