Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, on Thursday, described the Godwin Obaseki-led administration as “purely transactional.”
He remarked on the grand finale of the All Progressives Congress campaign for the Senatorial by-election in Ekpoma, Esan Central Local Government Area.
Reassuring the Esan people of greater development under his leadership, Okpebholo alleged that his predecessor was never committed to the state’s progress.
“You see, because of what we are doing in Edo State, the people are asking, where were these funds? Let me tell you, Obaseki and the PDP were never interested in developing our state. They were not interested in our people. They were purely transactional people,” he said.
However, the Publicity Secretary of the state PDP, Chris Nehikhare, said his party was not surprised by Okpebholo’s comment, alleging that he came into office “without the vote of the people.”
Nehikhare claimed that the governor’s only message to Edo residents was that President Bola Tinubu “loves the state,” yet no meaningful rehabilitation had been carried out on federal roads.
“Well, I think Edo people should be wiser by now. This is a government that came into power one way or the other without the vote of the people. None of the federal roads in Edo has been worked on. It takes five hours to move from Benin to Sapele, with commuters wasting so much time in Ologbo. Also, the Benin–Agbor and Benin–Abraka roads are in terrible condition.
“They have been talking about Tinubu bringing development to Edo while trying to distance themselves from the APC government at the centre. But it is the same government since 2015 that has been riddled with failure and incompetence, and that is what Edo is now falling into.
“When the PDP was in government in Edo, there was competence. But when the APC came, all they talked about was Tinubu, and they did nothing. It’s all about propaganda, confusion, thuggery, destruction — all in one — and we hope Edo people are taking note of these for the day of reckoning,” he said.
In a statement, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Fred Itua, said speakers at the campaign urged the people of Edo Central to turn out en masse on Saturday to vote for the APC candidate, promising that victory would guarantee effective representation and accelerated development for the district.
The campaign rally emphasised unity, peace, and vigilance during the electoral process, with assurances that the APC remains committed to delivering on its promises.
Residents described the turnout as one of the largest political gatherings in recent memory, signalling strong momentum for the APC heading into Saturday’s polls.
With just two days to the election, Thursday’s grand rally in Ekpoma reinforced the party’s confidence and determination to secure victory in the Edo Central senatorial by-election.
Speakers at the event, including Senator Adams Oshiomhole, praised the progress made within the nine months of Okpebholo’s administration and lauded the Esan people for their support.
The rally was a show of political strength, with all major APC stakeholders present, including former governor and current senator representing Edo North, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie; Chief of Staff, Mallam Ganiyu Audu; Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, and members of the House, as well as the Edo Central senatorial leader, Gen. Cecil Isekhaigbe (retd.), among other dignitaries.
