The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress,(APC), has insisted that Governor Monday Okpebholo was duly elected by the majority of the people of the state and not selected as alleged.
A member of the party’s transition committee and the Assets Verification Committee, Prince Kassim Afegbua, stated this while responding to the labelling of the State Governor as “Governor-Select by the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)
Thegazellenews.com reported that on November 26, 2024, the PDPP at a press briefing titled, “The State of the Nation Address”, read by the caretaker committee chairman of the party in the state, Dr Anthony Aziegbemi addressed Governor Monday Okpebholo as “Governor-select” and not elected.
“It is most unfortunate and disappointing that in just 14 days in office, the governor-select, Monday Okpebholo, through his actions and inactions, have succeeded in setting a dangerous tone for crisis and breach of public peace, and we are worried that this troubling precedent may just be an ignition for a conflagration that may well be avoided.
“In the same manner, thugs under the payroll of the Governor-Select Okpebholo as “government vehicle recovery agents” led by Kelly Okungbowa, a chieftain of the APC in the State, broke into the private residence of the immediate past Governor of the State HE Godwin Obaseki in Gestapo style, assaulting and harassing security personnel at the premises.
“Two weeks after their inauguration on November 12, the governor-select, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his Deputy, Denis Idahosa, have failed to officially resign from their respective seats in the Senate and the House of Representatives, denying their constituencies of representation at the National Assembly in line with section 68(1)d of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“We are aware that the Governor-Select is dismantling all the levers of government and governance that he inherited and so we are not surprised that he considers the state’s procurement act a hindrance that must be dismantled.
“Governor-select Okpebholo has procured over N5 billion worth of vehicles without proper procurement process which has created a crisis to the extent that PS Governor’s office is threatening civil servants in Central administration for refusing to accept vehicles due to improper documentation.
“While his short-lived tenure lasts until the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP reclaims the mandate duly given to it by Edo voters, he remains the governor-select”, Aziegbemi said at the press briefing.
Reacting, Prince Afegbua, said the people of Edo State gave their mandate to the party’s candidate, Monday Okpebholo to govern the state for the next four years.
”It is important to talk about all these things because they keep talking about Governor-select, Edo people in their thousands elected on September 21, 2024,
“It was a popular election and we were able to beat the traps they set for rigging the election so it is understandable that they will cry wolf where there is none.
“The election was not about the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC but was about Edo people making a resolve that it was good to do good riddance to bad rubbish and that was what happened on September 21, 2024.
They are already in the tribunal and we will not want to disturb you by making reference to the issues in the tribunal, but the fact must be established.
“The APC won convincingly even in the reports written by the chairman of PDP they conceded victory to APC and if they challenge us we will provide evidence.
“We will not be distracted by the needless opposition party statements that will not add value to the governance process of Edo State,” Afegbua said.
