The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly refuted recent allegations by Governor Monday Okpebholo, describing his claims as baseless, spurious, and an attempt to justify alleged attacks on local councils and the erosion of democracy in the state.
In a statement issued by the Chairman of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, the party dismissed Okpebholo’s accusations that PDP leaders had received funds from local government chairmen as “a cocktail of falsehoods” aimed at misleading the public and covering up what they termed his government’s disregard for the rule of law.
PDP Challenges Governor-Select’s Allegations
The PDP labeled the governor-select’s allegations as a calculated distraction from what they called his “illegal and lawless actions” against Edo State’s 18 local government councils. According to the statement, Okpebholo’s administration has resorted to using thugs and non-state actors to attack council headquarters, abduct councilors, and coerce them into impeaching elected council chairmen.
“These unfounded allegations are a blatant lie and should be disregarded. The governor-select is desperate to access the local councils’ treasury to reward his political godfathers and settle election debts,” Dr. Aziegbemi said.
The party also challenged Governor-Select Okpebholo to provide evidence to substantiate his claims, calling his accusations “a smokescreen for executive rascality.”
Defending Local Government Autonomy
The PDP emphasized that local government councils are constitutionally recognized as independent tiers of government and are not subordinate to the state government. They warned the governor-select to desist from actions that could plunge the state into chaos and jeopardize peace and security.
“Okpebholo must understand that local governments are not appendages of the state government. His reckless actions and disregard for constitutional autonomy threaten to destabilize Edo State,” the statement added.
A Call to Focus on Governance
The PDP criticized Okpebholo’s administration for its alleged lack of capacity and developmental vision for the state. They accused him of being unprepared for office and urged him to focus on governance rather than engaging in political witch-hunts.
“Okpebholo’s real challenge lies in his lack of capacity and developmental plans for the state. He is a politician out of his depth, who got into office unprepared. We urge him to settle down, build capacity, and focus on serving the people of Edo State during his brief tenure,” Dr. Aziegbemi concluded.
The PDP reaffirmed its commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and the peace and development of Edo State, urging all stakeholders to remain vigilant against any attempts to undermine democratic governance.
READ PRESS STATEMENT HERE Okpebholo’s lies on remittance of funds to PDP leaders a ploy to justify attack on local counci
