Taiwo Popoola
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused Governor Monday Okpebholo of planning to squander the sum of N2.8 billion to bribe opposition lawmakers in the State House of Assembly to defect to the All-Progressives Congress, APC.
Urban Express News Online reports that the allegation was contained in a statement signed by Chris Nehikhare, Publicity Secretary,
Edo PDP Caretaker Committee.
There are 13 PDP and one Labour Party lawmakers in the 24-member House.
Nehikhare alleged that Okpebholo planned to spend a huge amount to bribe lawmakers to defect to the APC amid insecurity, incessant killings and kidnapping of farmers and other residents in the state.
The statement dated March 6, 2025 was titled, ‘Edo PDP condemns Okpebholo’s N200M bribery ploy to buy defection of each assembly member. A reckless misappropriation of state resources.
He said, “The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is aware of the ploy by Senator Monday Okpebholo to splash N200 million each to induce members of the Edo State House of Assembly elected on the PDP platform to defect to the All-Progressives Congress (APC).
“We condemn in the strongest terms Senator Okpebholo’s desperate plans to squander the resources of the people of Edo State on political horse-trading for his survival, while critical sectors of the state remain in dire need of government intervention.
“In the last few weeks alone, at least 34 innocent Edo citizens have allegedly been brutally murdered across various communities in the State as a result of rising insecurity. While properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed on the back of the ongoing security crisis.
“Small and large-scale farmers are being displaced daily, more communities are being sacked by rampaging kidnappers and herders, while others, including the city centre is being overrun by non-state actors, leaving residents in fear and economic activities disrupted.
“The state is currently grappling with severe infrastructure decay due to neglect. The health sector is in shambles, with hospitals and clinics lacking essential medical supplies, including the Edo Specialist Hospital, where even the most basic consumables are unavailable. More youths now look up to thugs as role models because the government has failed to provide meaningful opportunities for their engagement.
“Unfortunately, amidst all these challenges, Okpebholo’s only concern is his political survival, as he schemes, along with his many political godfathers, to squander billions of naira that should be used to improve the lives of Edo people, on inducing Assembly members to defect to the APC.
“This is executive rascality at its peak and we dare say that this brazen act of corruption and reckless misplacement of priorities is shameful and unacceptable.
“We are not however surprised by Okpebholo’s alleged insatiable appetite for power at the expense of development and security of the State, having come to the office unprepared through the backdoor,” he alleged.
He, however, called on all well-meaning Edo people, civil society groups, and anti-corruption agencies to rise against the alleged abuse of power and reckless misappropriation of state resources.
He restated that as a party, they are undaunted by the alleged evil machinations of the governor and QPC in the state.
The party had on March 3, 2025, accused Okpebholo of allegedly withdrawing N750 million monthly as a secure vote even as the state has become a haven for kidnappers and other criminal gangs.
The party alleged that the criminal gangs operate with impunity, taking advantage of the deteriorating security situation, while residents and business owners continue to live in constant fear.
Reacting to the allegations, Paul Ohonbamu, the Edo State Commissioner for Information and Communication, opined that if the opposition legislators abandoned their political party it would not be because of any pecuniary consideration as alleged by the PDP spokesman,
but because they are fed up staying with strange bedfellows.
Ohonbamu in a statement dated March 7, 2025 and titled, “Nehikhare’s Defection Story: A lie by the Dead PDP in Edo State’, noted that the lamentation of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the state would not help the political party to survive the mass exodus of members to the All-Progressive Congress, APC.
He alleged that there are strong indications that PDP would soon cease to exist in the state and that no matter the campaign of calumny and attack against the Okpebholo administration would save the party.
The statement read, “It is not surprising to know that PDP members in the State House of Assembly are going to cross over to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
“Chris Nehikhare lamented in a statement titled, Edo PDP condemns Okpebholo’s N200M bribery ploy to buy defection of each Assembly member, reckless misappropriation of state resources
“For the information of Edo People, The Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo will not give any money to induce members of the Edo State House of Assembly elected on the PDP platform to defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
“Interestingly, if PDP members in the State House of Assembly decide to defect, it is nothing but survivalist strategy, because Godwin Obaseki destroyed the Party with his bad and wicked policies which apparently led to the defeat of their Governorship Candidate Asue Ighodalo at the polls.
“The fact remains that any discerning and credible politician in the state now knows where the pendulum is swinging to and like they say, failure is an orphan.
“Therefore, it is not strange if members of the House of Assembly want to be on the winning team, because of the good works of the governor which have become the magic wand.”
