Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged residents of the state to ignore PDP’s allegation that governor of the state, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has spent a whopping ₦3.51bn on travels in the last eight months.

In a statement signed by
Emperor Jarrett Tenebe,
State Chairman of the party, and made available to INFO DAILY in Benin on Monday, the APC said such claims were imagination of the PDP, adding that it “exposed their poor and lack of understanding of broader key economic indicators—which reflected in their negative impact on Edo State people throughout their disastrous eight years administration.”

Tenebe, who said the state governor has not embarked on any foreign trip since he assumed office on November 12, 2024, stressed that Okpebholo has demonstrated prudence since taking over from the opposition party.

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He said: “For the records, the APC administration led by His Excellency Senator Monday Okpebholo has demonstrated financial prudence since taking over from the PDP abstracted-MOU ‘419’ government on November 12, 2024.

“Accusing the present administration of wasting ₦3.51bn on imaginable ‘travels’ when the governor has not embarked on any foreign trip since November 12, 2024, shows that the half a dozen PDP renegades are obviously suffering from an acute form of hallucination which is associated with neurological disorders, due to the effects of overdose of substances and post election defeat syndrome.

“Our party, the APC wishes to place on record that Senator Okpebholo is a grassroots leader who is interested in finding home grown solutions to reposition the various sectors for measurable growth in the shortest possible time.”

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The APC State Chairman, who noted that the current admission is interested in development across the state and nothing else, Okpebholo will never siphon resources meant for the development of the state.

He added: “The APC government in Edo State is only interested in all round development of the 18 local government areas in line with global best practices.

“Governor Okpebholo will not continue in the habit of siphoning the state’s resources through fictitious globe trotting as witnessed in the last PDP administration.”

The deputy governor of Edo state, Hon. Dennis Idahosa has described next Saturday’s Ovia federal constituency by-election as a litmus test for the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 general elections.

He, therefore, said that the leadership and members of the party must do all that is necessary in terms of mobilisation and canvassing for votes to secure victory for the APC.

The deputy governor stated this at the party’s flag off campaign for the bye-election in Ovia South West on Saturday.

He noted that on the part of the government, Governor Monday Okpebholo has embarked on infrastructural transformation of the federal constituency to make life more meaningful for the people.

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At Siluko Ward, Idahosa told the electorates that aside having a high population, the community is one of the gateways into the state and therefore need to open up the area for development.

He said that the only support needed for the governor to do more is to work for the success of the APC on Saturday.

“Saturday’s by-election is to show our preparedness for the 2027 general elections. I want it to be a 100 perxent win for the APC.”

He said: “Be reminded that all the good things that have come to Siluko ward were facilitated by the APC government.

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“We are not taking this election for granted. When you get home, tell your family and neighbours that APC is one way, vote for Omosede Igbinedion, the only female candidate for the National Assembly from Edo state.”

On her part, the party’s candidate foe the poll, Igbinedion, while describing the deputy governor as a grassroot politician who has worked for the transformation of the federal constituency.

She appealed to the people not to relent on their support for the deputy governor, as well as the APC for more infrastructural development.

“Even in the cause of this campaigns, he (Idahosa) has brought some more projects to our communities.

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“With you votes on Saturday, I am going to complement his efforts in Abuja for the total transformation of our constituency,” she promised.

Similarly, Senator Neda Imasuen asserted that as a second term member of the house, Igbinedion would be able to identify lapses she made in her first term and correct them and influence projects for the betterment of her constituents.

The council Chairman Hon. Nosakhare Edobo, said that the governor has shown commitment to the people to deserve their support.

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has explained why his administration reviving College of Education, Igueben, Igueben Local Government Area of the state.

The governor said the pivotal role the institution will play in bringing development to Igueben informed his decision to revamp the College.

Speaking during the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign tour of several wards in Edo Central Senatorial District, including Ward 4, 7, 8, Uzea Kingdom, and Ebele Kingdom over the weekend, the governor assured residents that the state’s higher institutions would receive the attention they deserve.

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He said: “We will continue to march forward. We are reviving the College of Education, Igueben. We have rolled out a ₦1 billion bursary scheme to cater for Edo indigenes in tertiary institutions.”

Okpebholo, who was received by the Enogie of Uzea and the Enogie of Ebele respectively during the visits, also welcomed decampees from other political parties, led by leaders of various groups from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including the former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Friday Itula, in Okpoju Ward 4.

The governor, while highlighting other achievements of his administration, noted that under the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Edo State has purchased tractors to boost agriculture, revived the moribund Edo Line Transport Company and cleared its debts, procured security vehicles, banned illegal revenue collection, and intensified the fight against kidnapping.

He added: “Anyone that wants the progress of this country should vote for Mr. President because he loves Edo State. Before now, they could not do anything for us.”