Edo State’s outgoing Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is borrowing between N2 billion and N5 billion to fund the inauguration ceremony of Senator Monday Okpebholo, who won the governorship election on September 21, 2024. Obaseki made this claim during the inauguration of a 10-member caretaker committee for the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benin City on Friday.
Obaseki expressed disappointment that his administration has not been included in the planning of the inauguration ceremony, which is set for November 12, 2024. He further alleged that the incoming government has already started drawing from nearly N27 billion designated by his administration for ongoing projects and state obligations.
“In this festive season, they will want to use public funds to try and sway the people,” Obaseki said. “They’re borrowing for an inauguration that could cost them up to N5 billion, taking this money from the treasury.”
Obaseki also reassured PDP members that he would remain involved in the party and committed to helping them reclaim what he referred to as their “stolen mandate.” He cautioned that allowing the APC to retain power in Edo could endanger democracy in Nigeria. “This is not just about our candidate but about the future of democracy in Nigeria,” he asserted.
PDP governorship candidate Asue Ighodalo, who lost to Okpebholo in the September election, echoed Obaseki’s concerns, urging PDP members to brace for a difficult legal battle. He detailed the timeline for upcoming hearings, which are expected to begin in late November. “Our lawyers are prepared to respond to their petitions. These are challenging times, and we must remain strong as we pursue justice,” Ighodalo said.
Meanwhile, the Edo State APC responded with its own allegations, claiming that Obaseki’s administration recently withdrew N14 billion from a N24.6 billion deposit in the state’s account within a single week. In a statement, the APC also criticized Obaseki’s approval of three supplementary budgets in 2024, including a N450 billion allocation passed by the State House of Assembly just days before the September election. The APC suggested that these approvals raise suspicions about the purpose of the spending and demanded accountability from Obaseki’s administration.
The APC’s statement read, “The outgoing administration has reportedly squandered nearly 2 trillion Naira during its tenure, an astronomical figure that requires explanation. The people of Edo have the right to know where their resources have gone and why their future is being compromised by an administration seemingly intent on emptying the state’s coffers.”
As accusations between the two parties intensify, the political transition in Edo State has become a battleground for both fiscal responsibility and democratic accountability, with each side calling for transparency and fairness.
