By Jungle-Journalist.com
The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned that any commissioner or political appointee who fails to wear the Tinubu-styled Asiwaju cap to State Executive Council meetings risks suspension from the party.
Jungle-Journalist.com reports that the Tinubu cap controversy stems from Governor Monday Okpebholo’s recent instruction that members of his cabinet must demonstrate solidarity with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by wearing the signature Asiwaju cap and other APC-branded apparel at official functions.
The governor’s order has since sparked a heated political debate across the state, with critics describing it as unnecessary political pageantry, while party loyalists insist it is a show of unity and discipline within the ruling party.
Edo APC Defends the Tinubu Cap Order
Addressing journalists in Benin City, the Edo State APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, declared that any commissioner or appointee who ignores the directive will face disciplinary action.
“If you refuse to wear the cap as the governor has directed, we will suspend you. That is indiscipline and insubordination,” Tenebe said firmly.
He explained that the instruction was not a matter of personal choice but a reflection of loyalty to both the party and its national leader.
“This is about party discipline. If you serve under an APC-led government, you must show loyalty to President Bola Tinubu, who remains the symbol of our political movement,” he said.
3.5 Million Votes Promise for Tinubu
Tenebe told Jungle-Journalist.com that the cap directive was part of a broader strategy to consolidate the APC’s base and strengthen its visibility ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We are doing this because we have promised that 3.5 million votes are guaranteed for President Bola Tinubu. Everybody has keyed into achieving that target,” he declared.
The APC chairman noted that symbols like the Asiwaju cap were more than fashion statements—they represented unity, loyalty, and shared political vision.
Mixed Reactions Across Edo State
However, the directive has stirred mixed feelings within political and public circles in Edo State.
While many see the governor’s insistence as a bid to reinforce cohesion within the party, others view it as excessive and authoritarian.
Some critics argue that forcing commissioners to wear a political insignia could blur the line between governance and partisan showmanship.
But supporters counter that the practice is common in Nigerian politics, where symbolic loyalty often signals stability and trust in leadership.
According to Jungle-Journalist.com findings, the controversy has also deepened conversations about party discipline and identity within the Edo APC.
Tenebe: “No Asiwaju Cap, No Exco”
Tenebe maintained that no amount of criticism would make the party back down on the directive.
“Those complaining are not members of the APC. In Edo, we have made it clear — no Asiwaju cap, no Exco,” he insisted.
He urged all appointees to see the governor’s directive as part of a collective responsibility to strengthen the APC’s image and ensure alignment with national leadership.
For Governor Okpebholo and the Edo APC leadership, the Tinubu cap is now more than a political symbol — it has become a test of discipline, loyalty, and alignment ahead of the 2027 polls.
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