Edo PDP lambasts Okpebholo for procuring defector lawmakers for N200m each

● Warns of dire consequences for wanton waste, misappropriation of state funds

[Press Release] In confirmation of the alarm raised by our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), last week, that Senator Monday Okpebholo was planning to procure members of the Edo State House of Assembly elected on the PDP platform to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) for N200m each, four lawmakers including, Donald Okugbe, Bright Iyamu, Richard Edosa, and Sunday Ojezele, have now defected, pocketing N200m each.

We want to frown again at this wanton waste of state funds by the Okpebholo administration and warn that misappropriation of government funds attracts very stiff punishment and in due course, Okpebholo will give an account of the government funds he is dispensing recklessly.

We want to commend the members of the PDP in the State parliament, who have remained steadfast and faithful to the party, rejecting the huge bribe that is being tossed at them by the Executive arm of the Edo State Government.

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It is quite shameful and disappointing that while insecurity ravages communities across the State, claiming the lives of at least 40 innocent Edo citizens in the last two weeks, the State’s supposed Chief Security Officer is only concerned with political horse-trading for his own survival, recklessly squandering millions of taxpayers’ money on such shenanigans.

More farmers in various Edo communities are being displaced daily, as kidnappers and armed herders continue to unleash terror on the very people Okpebholo swore under oath to protect. The State is fast descending into a gangland of sorts due to the unchecked activities of non-state actors who have overrun the State, harassing, intimidating, and attacking traders, transporters, and other citizens. The State is under siege. The majority of Edo residents now live in fear, while economic activities remain severely disrupted.

But Okpebholo’s primary concern appears to be securing his seat at Dennis Osadebey Avenue, and his panic-driven political machination in anticipation of an unfavorable tribunal outcome amid compelling evidence from the PDP proving that the September 21 governorship election was rigged in his favor, has now resorted to using state funds to buy fake loyalty and support.

While we warn of the dire consequences of this wanton waste and misappropriation of state funds by the Okpebholo government,  we are confident that the judiciary will correct the injustice of September 21, 2024, and return the stolen mandate to the PDP and Asue Ighodalo, whom Edo people overwhelmingly voted for in the last governorship election so as to bring an end to Okpebholo and APC’s rascality in Edo State.

Chris Osa Nehikhare
Publicity Secretary
Edo PDP Caretaker Committee