Politics

Edo PDP Expresses Concern Over Okpebholo’s ₦100bn Loan, Says ‘It’s Another Conduit Pipe’

Published

4 months ago

June 25, 2025

...If accessed, Okpebholo would have doubled state’s domestic debt profile in less than eight months – PDP

Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed “grave concern” over the recent approval of ₦100bn loan to the state governor, Monday Okpebholo, by the state House of Assembly.

The Edo State House of Assembly had on Tuesday approved a ₦100 billion loan facility from First Bank of Nigeria PLC to support Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration in delivering key infrastructural projects across the state.

Reacting to this development in a statement, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, Chairman, Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, said “If this new loan is accessed, Sen. Okpebholo would have effectively doubled the state’s domestic debt profile in less than Eight months.”

The opposition party, while quoting the Debt Management Office (DMO), noted that “Edo State’s total domestic debt since creation on 27 August, 1991 as at December 31 2024 stood at One Hundred and Twelve Billion Naira (N112,000,000.00).”

The PDP added: “It took 34 years by all governors of Edo State to incur 112 Billion Debt, it is taking Sen. Monday Okpebholo Eight months to double it. This is an alarming development that raises serious questions about the long-term fiscal sustainability of the state; and indeed, about the financial competence of this APC led Administration.”

The opposition lamented that “what is particularly disturbing is the complete absence of transparency surrounding this loan,” stressed that “the people of Edo deserve to know what commitments are being made on their behalf and at what cost.”

The PDP contained: “No information has been provided regarding the identity of nominated contractors, the interest rate, repayment terms, or timeline for execution.

“It is unacceptable that such a significant financial obligation is being incurred without public scrutiny or clear justification.”

Aziegbemi, who expressed worry that “the once vibrant State Assembly has abandoned its constitutional duty to rein in the excesses of the Executive Branch of Government,” reminded the lawmakers that “infrastructure loans of this magnitude are ordinarily sourced from development finance institutions on low interest rate/concessional terms.”

He added: “Securing such a facility from a commercial bank with high interest rates is both fiscally irresponsible and economically short sighted. At the prevailing interest rate of 30% and add Ons, Edo State will be paying 35 billion Naira annually just as interest. This is alarming and acutely not sustainable.”

Aziegbemi continued: “When we raised alarm about the fall in the IGR from about N8bn monthly during the immediate past government to about N2bn monthly, Okpebholo and his hirelings in their jaundiced response lied to Edo people that the State was generating N10bn monthly.

“We are also aware that the Okpebholo government inherited over ₦50 billion in the state treasury from the Godwin Obaseki-led administration less than eight months ago.

“So, how do we justify that a government that inherited such an amount and who claims to be generating over N10bn monthly in IGR is now running to First Bank Nigeria Plc to borrow ₦100 billion. It only but exposes the fiscal irresponsibility of the Okpebholo government and affirms the drastic fall in the IGR, thereby forcing them to resort to reckless borrowing to cover up the shortfall.”

Aziegbemi, who argued that the loan “appears to be nothing but another conduit pipe to slush funds, which Okpebholo plans to service his endless list of godfathers and political thugs who helped him steal the people’s mandate during the last governorship election,” demanded a “full list of the infrastructure projects to be financed; names and profiles of the nominated contractors; the full loan agreement including interest rate, tenure, repayment terms and disbursement schedule, and “all records of proceedings and resolutions related to the loan by the State Executive Council and House of Assembly.”

Politics

Court Stops 2025 PDP National Convention

Published

3 hours ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday halted the planned 2025 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) until the party complied with the statutory requirements of the party, the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

The suit was filed by three aggrieved members of the party namely, Hon Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Hon Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman) and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South) seeking to stop the convention on the ground of violation to the Electoral law.

Delivering the judgment, the Judge also restrained INEC from accepting report on the outcome of any national convention of the party without following the due process of the law as well as its guidelines and regulations.

The Judge held that INEC is not entitled to give effect to the convention a party not done in accordance with the Constitution, Electoral Act and the guidelines/regulations of political parties.

The plaintiffs instituted the suit seeking to stop the planned November 15 and 16, 2025 National Convention of the PDP scheduled for Ibadan in Oyo State where new National Officers are expected to be elected on the ground of breach of the party’s Constitution.

The nine defendants are, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); PDP; Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the party; Umar Bature, National Organizing Secretary of the party; National Working Committee (NWC); and National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party; Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum; Ali Odefa; and Emmanuel Ogidi.

Politics

2027: Why Jonathan Can’t Run For President – Appeal Court Ex-President

Published

3 hours ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

Former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, has clarified why former President Goodluck Jonathan cannot contest the 2027 presidential election.

According to Salami, the Nigerian Constitution explicitly bars any individual from holding the office of President for more than eight years, making Jonathan ineligible to run again.

He explained that Jonathan had already completed the tenure of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua before serving his own full term, which constitutionally disqualifies him from seeking another.

In an opinion piece, Salami argued that any attempt by Jonathan to contest and win in 2027 would amount to a violation of the law, stressing that such a victory would be nullified by the courts.

“It is painstakingly and dispassionately demonstrated that the ambition of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to contest for the office of the president in the 2027 general election is effectively and undoubtedly shot down,” Salami stated.

Politics

PDP Reacts To Court Ruling On Planned Convention

Published

3 hours ago

October 31, 2025

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made a formal reaction on Friday to the judgment of the Abuja High Court, which stopped its planned November 15 Ibadan National Elective Convention, saying that the judgment didn’t affect its preparations for the event.

While describing the action of the court as “an assault on Nigeria’s democratic process”, the party called on its members to remain focused on going to Ibadan for the convention.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is appalled by the judgement of the Federal High Court Abuja, presided over by Honorable Justice Kolawole Omotosho today, describing it as an assault on Nigeria’s democratic process.

“However, the PDP states that the judgment of the court does not vitiate its ability to proceed with the processes and activities towards the National Convention to elect new National Officers to pilot the affairs of the Party for the next four years”, the National Publicity Secretary, Honourable Debo Ologunagba, said in a reaction to the judgment.

The party referenced the April 4 judgment of the Supreme Court, which empowered political parties to regulate its internal affairs, noting that the party would go ahead to host the convention.

However, Ologunagba clarified that as a law-abiding organisation, the PDP had also directed its lawyers to appeal the judgment.

The stated further, “Our Party notes the recent judgement of the Supreme Court which affirms the supremacy of a political party in the management of its internal affairs.

“The PDP therefore charges its members, Chapter and Organs to remain steadfast and focused on preparations towards the holding of the National Convention of our Party.

“Nevertheless, the PDP as the leading opposition Party in Nigeria committed to the Rule of Law has accordingly directed its lawyers to take immediate action to appeal this judgment in our unwavering determination to uphold, defend and promote multi-party democracy in our country.”

Three aggrieved members of the party namely, Honourable Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman); Honourable Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman); and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South), had dragged the PDP to court, asking to to stop the convention on the grounds of violation of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, 2022 and the PDP’s constitution.

Specifically, they had cited alleged exclusion of some key stakeholders from the preparations for the convention among other concerns.