Political Watch: Hon Bankole Comes to Town on Saturday

By Elempe Dele

This coming Saturday 17th, 2026, Igarra will be bustling as Otunba (Hon) Oladele Bankole-Balogun Esq, the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Revenue Service (EIRS) will be hosting the public to his New Year Party Celebration at his compound in Ugbogbo.

The party is promised to have political heavyweight from the All Progressives Congress, APC, in attendance, as well as first class obas from communities in Akoko-Edo.

Last year, Hon. Bankole hosted party and non-members to a reception at the same venue after the church thanksgiving for his appointment as the chairman of the EIRS. The reception was fully attended with people from most communities in Akoko-Edo.

Although there have been online graphic design posters projecting him for the 2027 House of Representatives election, no formal statement from him or his media handlers affirming or denying them.

Several other APC members have been campaigning online rigorously. The likes of Dr. Adetutu Owolabi and Hon. Afaghase have their media aides and teams awash the social media with campaigns since last year. There are also possibilities of Hon. Adjoto Kabiru and Dr. Taiwo Akerele to gun for the House of Representatives but no formal declaration has been made from both of them as of today. It is also part of hearsay that Hon. Peter Ohio Akpatason will make a bid for the fifth term but no formal confirmation of this by the Uneme-Nekhua born politician.

From my political kaleidoscope, the primary election to the position of the House of Representatives in Akoko-Edo will not be determined by much of online campaigns but my endorsement from the party hierarchy in Benin and Abuja.

It is yet to be determined also if Hon. Bankole will use this New Year party celebration to steer the political waters in Akoko-Edo by formally announcing to the people his intention to run. However, it is well known that strategic alignment are ongoing by him as well as broad-based consultations within and outside Akoko-Edo. It is also a well known fact that Hon. Bankole has very far-reaching connections within the APC at the national level, and this will mean so much to him if truly he will run for the office.

Not only all fingers are crossed, hands and legs are also crossed concerning this contentious bid concerning who will likely replace the incumbent office holder if he chooses not to run again. One thing is sure, those who will be attending the New Year party will have enough to eat and drink.