₦2.8bn bribery scandal rocks Edo: PDP accuses Okpebholo of buying lawmakers

By Jethro Ibileke

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Governor Monday Okpebholo of planning to spend ₦2.8 billion to bribe opposition lawmakers in the State House of Assembly to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement dated 6 March 2025, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, condemned the alleged scheme, calling it a reckless misappropriation of public funds at a time when the state is grappling with insecurity and economic hardship.

Nehikhare’s statement, titled “Edo PDP Condemns Okpebholo’s ₦200m Bribery Ploy to Buy Defection of Each Assembly Member: A Reckless Misappropriation of State Resources”, alleged that Okpebholo was attempting to lure lawmakers from PDP and the Labour Party into the APC.

“There are 13 PDP and one Labour Party lawmakers in the 24-member House,” Nehikhare said, accusing the governor of prioritising political maneuvering over the pressing challenges facing Edo residents.

The PDP described the alleged plan as an irresponsible use of public funds, arguing that the state’s resources should be channelled into addressing security challenges and infrastructural decay.

“The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is aware of the ploy by Senator Monday Okpebholo to splash ₦200 million each to induce members of the Edo State House of Assembly elected on the PDP platform to defect to the APC,” the statement read.

“We condemn in the strongest terms Senator Okpebholo’s desperate plans to squander the resources of the people of Edo State on political horse-trading for his own survival, while critical sectors of the state remain in dire need of government intervention.”

The statement further highlighted the rising insecurity in Edo, citing the alleged murder of 34 residents in recent weeks, as well as the displacement of farmers due to incessant attacks by kidnappers and herders.

“The state is currently grappling with severe infrastructure decay due to neglect. The health sector is in shambles, with hospitals and clinics lacking essential medical supplies, including the Edo Specialist Hospital, where even the most basic consumables are unavailable. More youths now look up to thugs as role models because the government has failed to provide meaningful opportunities for their engagement,” the PDP stated.

The party called on Edo residents, civil society groups, and anti-corruption agencies to resist what it described as “executive rascality” and the reckless misappropriation of public funds.

Reacting to the allegations, Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Paul Ohonbamu, dismissed the PDP’s claims as baseless, insisting that no money was being offered to lawmakers to defect.

In a statement on 7 March 2025, titled “Nehikhare’s Defection Story: A Lie by the Dead PDP in Edo State”, Ohonbamu argued that the PDP was simply lamenting its imminent collapse in Edo politics.

“For the information of Edo people, Governor Monday Okpebholo will not give any money to induce members of the Edo State House of Assembly elected on the PDP platform to defect to the APC,” he stated.

He asserted that lawmakers leaving the PDP were doing so of their own accord, describing their defection as a “survivalist strategy” due to what he called the failures of former Governor Godwin Obaseki.

“It is not surprising to know that PDP members in the State House of Assembly are going to cross over to the APC. The fact remains that any discerning and credible politician in the state now knows where the pendulum is swinging to, and like they say, failure is an orphan,” Ohonbamu said.

He added that the exodus of PDP lawmakers was inevitable, as the party had been weakened by Obaseki’s policies, which he blamed for the loss of PDP’s governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, at the polls.

“Therefore, it is not strange if members of the House of Assembly want to be on the winning team, because of the good works of the governor, which have become the magic wand,” he stated.