Politics

Mischief-makers Creating Wrong Narrative About Edo Assembly Crisis – Govt

Published

4 years ago

February 2, 2022

The Edo State Government has condemned attempts by some mischief-makers to create the false narrative that there is a ‘crisis’ in the Edo State House of Assembly.

The Government noted that the exercise is being orchestrated by elements who lost out in the last governorship election in the state.

Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., in a statement titled, “The Full Story Regarding the Edo State House of Assembly: The Danger of a Single Fraudulent Narrative,” said the people of Edo State have continued to enjoy the benefit of good governance with the three arms of government at peace with one another and working for the common good.

The statement reads: “The Edo State Government has noticed that in the past few weeks, a vigorous media offensive appears to have been launched by some characters who lost out in the politics regarding the governorship of Edo State in the last election.

“The issue of particular interest has been an attempt to create the narrative that there exists a ‘crisis’ in the Edo State House of Assembly and that such a crisis has been orchestrated by the Executive Arm of Government.

“These persons seek to take advantage of the somewhat short attention span and memory of some unwary persons which make the obvious factual inaccuracies in their narrative seductive.

“It is, therefore, necessary to recount for purposes of posterity the sequence of events that led us to where we are now.”

Ogie continued: “On the 9th of March, 2019, an election was conducted into the Edo State House of Assembly, in which all 24 seats were won by the candidates of the then All Progressives Congress (APC).

“In line with the provisions of section 105 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), His Excellency, the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, on the 14th Day of June, 2019, issued a proclamation for the first session of the Edo State House of Assembly to be held on the Monday, 17th Day of June, 2019.

“This proclamation was duly publicized in official gazettes and in the print and electronic media circulating in Edo State and across Nigeria.

“It is a requirement of the law that all elected members present themselves to the Clerk of the Assembly, bringing along copies of their declaration of assets upon which they would be sworn-in by the Clerk of the House of Assembly and would subsequently proceed to elect their principal officers.

“On the said date, 17th of June, 2019, nine elected members presented themselves forswearing-in in accordance with the law, while the others (for reasons best known to them), chose to stay away.”

The government scribe further noted, “The members present therefore were administered with the relevant oath and proceeded to carry on with the business of the House of Assembly.

“It must be pointed out that the validity of these proclamation and inauguration were challenged before the Federal High Court in suit noFHC/PH/CS/159/2019 and in a considered judgement, His Lordship, the Honourable Justice J.K Omotosho, not only validated the aforestated proclamation and inauguration of the House of Assembly, but restrained the Governor of Edo State from issuing any other proclamation in that regard.

“Subsequently, two other members presented themselves for swearing-in and were duly sworn in to take their places in the Edo State House of Assembly.

“The rogue members-elect of the House of Assembly at the behest of their political patrons relocated to Abuja, living large in five-star hotels under the sponsorship of their said patrons whilst they instituted various cases including suit no B/81/OS/2019 and also invited the two arms of the National Assembly to unlawfully intervene and truncate the smooth running of the Edo State Government.

“It is a matter of public record that these attempts to secure a political coup d’etat ultimately failed because of the heroic resistance of the people of Edo State.

“At the expiration of 181 days of continuous absenteeism and failure to present themselves for inauguration as prescribed by the constitution, the seats of these delinquent members-elect were declared vacant by the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, who subsequently called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct by-elections into the now vacant seats in order to ensure that the citizens of the affected constituencies have representation in the Edo State House of Assembly.”

“These same recalcitrant members-elect immediately again filed an action at the Federal High Court in Abuja in suit no FHC/AB/CS/1582/2019, seeking to restrain INEC from conducting the said by-election and also seeking to reverse the decision to declare their seats vacant,” he added.

Noting that the absentee members-elect and their sponsors have resorted to spinning a false narrative of unlawful exclusion and illegality after they lost in their attempt to continue the stranglehold of their godfathers on the governorship of Edo State, Ogie said, “In consequence of these numerous actions, the absentee members-elect have ensured a stalemate in the resolution of the representation of their constituencies arising from their selfish interests.

“In the run-up to the last Edo State Governorship election, these same members-elect notwithstanding the numerous court actions they had themselves instituted came to Benin under armed police escorts from Abuja and attempted to physically and violently seize control of the Edo State House of Assembly.

“When they failed in this attempt, they retreated to the residence of one of their sponsors in Benin City, whereat they purported to proclaim their own House of Assembly and even went ahead to elect their own Speaker and principal officers.

“Before their illegal activities fizzled out into insignificance, they issued orders to banks and other financial institutions, attempting to shut down the activities of the Edo State Government.

“When they and their sponsors finally lost in their attempt to continue the stranglehold of their godfathers on the governorship of Edo State, they again retreated into their shells and have only recently embarked on a whirlwind tour of media houses and other public establishments in an attempt to spin a false narrative of unlawful exclusion and illegality.

“One would have expected that persons who submitted their disputes to duly constituted courts in line with the dictates of all civilized societies would pursue their claims before those courts diligently rather than the constant twists and turns by which they attempt to seek extra-judicial sympathy, remedies and political resolution of straightforward legal issues.”

The statement further read: “It has become necessary to make this statement in order to set the record straight and to avoid a situation where lies and fraudulent untruths are repeated so often that they begin to appear like truth.

“The Edo State Government wishes to assure all concerned that the state is in good health, safe, secure and welcoming of all law-abiding citizens, investors and visitors and this attempt to falsely create an impression of crisis and conflict is not supported by the facts on ground.

“Interestingly, in the absence of these mischief-makers and their godfather, the generality of the people of Edo State have continued to enjoy the benefit of good governance with the three arms of government at peace with one another and working for the common good.”

Politics

In Defence Of Khalifa Jarrett Tenebe: The Generational Shift Reshaping Edo Politics

Published

16 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

By DAN Osa-Ogbegie

For decades, Edo politics remained trapped within a narrow and predictable cycle of political recycling. The same ageing actors moved endlessly from one office to another, from one administration to the next, and from one political alignment to another, as though leadership in Edo State had become the exclusive inheritance of a permanent political aristocracy.

Meanwhile, thousands of intelligent, energetic, and capable young Edo people watched helplessly from the margins while opportunities for leadership, governance, party administration, and public service remained tightly controlled by individuals whose political relevance dated back several decades.

That unhealthy political culture is now gradually changing.

Today, one of the most important political transformations taking place within the All Progressives Congress in Edo State is the deliberate transition from recycled political gerontocracy to a younger generation of political actors. That transition is unfolding under the leadership of Senator Monday Okpebholo, Governor of Edo State and Leader of the APC in Edo State, together with the State Chairman of the party, Khalifa Jarrett Tenebe.

Predictably, such a shift has unsettled entrenched interests.

Those who became accustomed to monopolising political relevance naturally feel threatened by the emergence of a younger generation that is increasingly assertive, visible, influential, and institutionally empowered. Yet, history teaches a simple lesson: no political structure survives indefinitely without renewal.

No serious political party can continue recycling the same exhausted political machinery forever while expecting innovation, grassroots energy, modern governance ideas, and long-term political sustainability.

That reality appears to be clearly understood by Governor Monday Okpebholo and Khalifa Jarrett Tenebe.

Much of the criticism unfairly directed at Khalifa Jarrett Tenebe in recent times stems from the fact that he has become one of the visible faces of this generational transition within Edo APC. Beneath the noise, propaganda, and political bitterness lies an undeniable truth: the party is consciously opening spaces for younger people in ways not seen for many years.

From the youthful Deputy Chairman of APC in Edo State, Sylvester Aigboboh, to several younger commissioners, Special Advisers, members of the State Executive Council, board chairmen, local government administrators, and strategic appointees across government, the evidence of deliberate political renewal is becoming increasingly impossible to ignore.

In Uhunmwode Local Government Area, Hon. Austin Imafidon has emerged as one of the young faces of focused governance and grassroots administration. Beyond politics, he has already established himself successfully in business, bringing into governance the mindset of productivity, enterprise, and modern administrative engagement.

In Etsako, Hon. Sunny Ekpeson has continued to attract national attention as the youngest ALGON Chairman in Nigeria, representing a clear departure from the era where local government leadership was treated as the permanent preserve of ageing political operators disconnected from younger demographics.

In Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Hon. Eric Osawaru represents another example of the younger political generation now entrusted with leadership responsibilities, while in Oredo Local Government Area, Engr. Gabriel Iduseri equally reflects the growing confidence being reposed in younger administrators within the APC structure.

In Owan, Hon. Aitalegbe Ernest, popularly known as “China Boy,” has also emerged as one of the prominent young political figures gaining traction as the incoming Chairman of the local government, further reinforcing the expanding generational transition currently taking shape across Edo State.

The same pattern is visible across government institutions and strategic agencies.

Pastor Stanley Dave Ighodaro, a successful entrepreneur with thriving business interests in Europe, now heads the Edo State Parks and Gardens Agency. His emergence reflects an increasingly important shift towards bringing professionally exposed and globally minded younger individuals into governance and public administration.

Similarly, Kassim Otono, who serves as Special Adviser on Oil and Gas to the Executive Governor of Edo State, represents another example of younger technocratic involvement within the present administration. His inclusion within such a strategic sector underscores the growing confidence being placed in younger professionals and politically aware technocrats within government.

This is how enduring institutions are built.

A political party that refuses to regenerate itself eventually becomes intellectually stagnant, structurally weak, and electorally disconnected from evolving social realities.

Governor Monday Okpebholo deserves commendation for recognising that governance in a rapidly changing society cannot remain permanently tied to political methods and leadership assumptions developed several decades ago. Contemporary governance demands adaptability, technological awareness, stronger grassroots engagement, administrative energy, and a deeper connection with younger populations.

Khalifa Jarrett Tenebe equally deserves credit for helping stabilise the party while managing this difficult but necessary transition process. Generational shifts are never easy within political systems historically dominated by established interests. Resistance is inevitable. Political resentment is expected. Internal anxieties naturally emerge whenever old monopolies begin to weaken.

Leadership, however, requires courage.

The recently concluded primaries further revealed this evolving direction within the APC. The emergence of candidates such as Rt. Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Osazee Igbinovia, Dr. Emmanuel Paddy Iyamu, Omosede Igbinedion, Sir Lucky Eseigbe, and Odianosen Okojie reflects a growing political philosophy that increasingly values capacity, grassroots relevance, contemporary appeal, and generational continuity.

Equally symbolic is the emergence of several young Acting Local Government Council Chairmen who are now candidates of the party in the forthcoming local government elections. That development sends a powerful message across Edo State that political participation is gradually becoming more accessible to younger people with competence, commitment, and organisational value.

For too long, many young people in Edo politics were reduced to political spectators, social media defenders, praise singers, or election-day foot soldiers while actual power remained tightly guarded elsewhere. Such a model was never sustainable.

A society that continuously sidelines its younger generation ultimately weakens its own political future.

The ongoing transition within Edo APC does not amount to hostility towards elders or experienced political actors. Experience remains valuable. Elder statesmen still possess institutional memory and political wisdom that younger actors can benefit from immensely. Mentorship, however, must never become political suffocation. Guidance must never evolve into permanent political domination.

Every generation deserves the opportunity to participate meaningfully in shaping the future it will eventually inherit.

That is precisely why the current direction of the APC leadership in Edo State deserves objective acknowledgement rather than emotional hostility.

Many of those attacking Khalifa Jarrett Tenebe today are not truly angry about party administration. Their deeper discomfort arises from the reality that political influence is gradually shifting away from old centres of control towards a newer generation of actors who may no longer depend entirely on traditional political gatekeepers for relevance or survival.

Societies evolve.

Political cultures evolve.

Leadership itself evolves.

No generation owns political power forever.

Ultimately, the future of Edo State cannot be built exclusively around recycled political veterans whose greatest political moments belong largely to the past. A forward-looking society must continuously create room for younger leadership, newer ideas, fresh administrative energy, and modern political thinking.

That future is already unfolding within the APC in Edo State.

History may eventually remember Khalifa Jarrett Tenebe and Governor Monday Okpebholo as central figures in the difficult but necessary political transition that began moving Edo away from recycled political dominance towards a broader and younger leadership culture capable of preparing the state for a different era.

Daniel Aroren Noah Osa-Ogbegie is a Benin based legal practitioner and public intellectual from Uhunmwode Local Government Area.

Politics

JUST IN: Omo-Agege Resigns From APC

Published

17 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

Former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with immediate effect.

In a letter to the Chairman of Orogun Ward 2, Ughelli North Local Government, Delta State, dated May 22, 2026, Omo-Agege said after reviewing recent developments within the ruling party and consulting with his associates and supporters, it is clear that his political objectives and those of his constituents are better served outside the party.

“I will not remain a sitting duck in a party where I cannot advance the interests of Delta Central, Delta State and Nigeria,” he said.

On Ovie Omo-Agege’s castle-in-the-air
“I thank the APC for the opportunity to serve as Deputy President of the 9th Senate. I wish the party well and have requested that my name be removed from all membership records, registers, and communication lists,” Omo-Agege added.

Omo-Agege, in a statement by his media adviser, Sunny Areh, affirmed that his focus remains on delivering development and effective representation for Delta Central, Delta State, and Nigeria. He added that he will seek to pursue these goals outside the APC.

Details shortly…

Politics

Amaechi Rejects ‘Concocted’ ADC Presidential Primary Results

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

Former Minister of Transportation and presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has rejected the outcome of the party’s presidential primary election, describing the exercise as deeply flawed and lacking credibility.

The ADC on Monday conducted a nationwide direct primary to select its candidate for the 2027 presidential election, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, former Managing Director of the defunct FSB International Bank, and Amaechi emerging as the leading contenders.

Reacting in a statement issued on Tuesday, Amaechi alleged widespread voter disenfranchisement, manipulation and serious electoral malpractice during the exercise, insisting that the results being announced were “concocted” and did not reflect the will of party members.

According to him, the primary process was compromised from the outset, with several genuine party members allegedly denied the opportunity to participate in the election across different states.

Amaechi accused some party officials of undermining the integrity of the exercise through what he described as coordinated irregularities capable of damaging the credibility of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He maintained that the conduct of the primary fell short of the democratic standards, transparency and fairness expected in a credible internal party election.

The former Rivers State governor called on the leadership of the ADC to urgently address the alleged irregularities and protect the democratic rights of party members.

He warned that failure to uphold transparency and internal democracy could weaken public confidence in the party and its ability to present itself as a viable alternative ahead of the next general elections.

Amaechi’s rejection of the process is expected to deepen internal tensions within the ADC as opposition realignments and political calculations ahead of 2027 continue to gather momentum.