The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Governor Monday Okpebholo and his administration of deploying thugs to recover government property from former Governor Godwin Obaseki’s private residence and to disrupt the PDP’s activities. The PDP also alleged that thugs attempted to steal and destroy court documents related to the recent governorship election in the state.
Addressing a press conference, PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman Tony Azeigbemi accused Governor Okpebholo and his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, of failing to resign from their previous legislative positions after assuming executive roles, describing this as a constitutional breach.
Azeigbemi expressed concern over what he termed a dangerous precedent of lawlessness set by Okpebholo within two weeks of taking office. He highlighted alleged attacks on the PDP state secretariat and the harassment of security personnel at Obaseki’s residence by individuals he claimed were acting as “vehicle recovery agents” under the governor’s directive.
The PDP further accused the new administration of bypassing standard procurement processes for an overhead bridge project at Ramat Park and failing to pay November salaries despite inheriting ₦30 billion in state coffers.
Okpebholo’s Response
Governor Okpebholo, through his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, dismissed the allegations as baseless attempts by the PDP to distract from the governor’s achievements. The administration vowed to expose the alleged financial mismanagement and corruption perpetrated during Obaseki’s tenure.
In a statement, Itua accused the PDP of mismanaging Edo’s resources and neglecting critical issues during its administration. He highlighted Okpebholo’s swift actions since taking office, including banning tout activities in markets, addressing cult clashes, halting illegal revenue collection, and initiating the state’s first flyover bridge.
The governor also alleged that Obaseki’s administration distributed nearly 500 government vehicles to cronies, which the current administration is working to recover. Okpebholo emphasized that his administration is committed to recovering Edo’s resources and tackling the state’s challenges head-on, regardless of opposition from the PDP.
Both parties have called for accountability, with the PDP demanding investigations into alleged thuggery and Okpebholo promising to reveal Obaseki’s purported misconduct.
