Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the last Edo State gubernatorial election, has issued a legal warning to the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman in Edo State, Jarrett Tenebe, demanding a retraction and apology for an alleged defamatory statement.
The controversy stems from a video where Tenebe accused Ighodalo and former Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki of stealing public funds worth billions of naira. This remark was made while defending Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, who faced public mockery after stumbling over the announcement of the ₦605 billion budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year during its presentation to the State House of Assembly.
The viral video of Governor Okpebholo struggling to pronounce the budget figure drew widespread criticism online. However, Tenebe, in his defense of the governor, claimed the errors stemmed from Okpebholo’s integrity and lack of familiarity with such large sums, contrasting it with alleged financial misconduct by his predecessors.
In response, Ighodalo, through his legal team, described the allegations as baseless and defamatory. A formal letter has been sent to Tenebe, demanding a public apology and a complete retraction of his statement within seven days. The PDP stalwart emphasized that failure to comply would result in legal action.
The letter states that the accusations of stealing public funds were “malicious and damaging,” aimed at tarnishing Ighodalo’s reputation. He insisted the APC chairman provide evidence for his claims or face the legal consequences of his remarks.
This legal move has added another layer to the political tension in Edo State, as observers await Tenebe’s response and the potential fallout from the threatened court action.
