Okpebholo gives ultimatum, demands ₦25bn from Edo PDP Chairman over alleged Libel

By Jethro Ibileke

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has issued a hard legal ultimatum to the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anthony Aziegbemi, demanding ₦25 billion in damages over what he described as a year-long campaign of libel and character assassination.

The demand, conveyed in a letter dated December 22, 2025, was signed by the Governor’s counsel, R.I.D. Okezie, Esq., and titled “Demand for damages and apologies for defamation of the character of the Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo.”

In the letter, Governor Okpebholo gave Aziegbemi a seven-day ultimatum to pay the ₦25 billion compensation and tender a public apology, to be published prominently in three national newspapers, including Vanguard and The Guardian.

The Governor warned that failure to comply within the stipulated period would leave him with no option but to institute legal action in a court of competent jurisdiction anywhere in the country.

According to the letter, the damages sought represent compensation for the alleged harm done to Okpebholo’s reputation through a series of press releases issued by the PDP chairman, particularly one dated January 7, 2025, which was widely circulated in national newspapers and online platforms.

“Our client’s attention has recently been drawn to a press release by you wherein you repeatedly disparaged the reputation and character of our client and the high office he occupies in this State,” the letter stated.

The Governor’s legal team accused Aziegbemi of publishing statements that portrayed Okpebholo as unintelligent, dishonest, violent and lawless, alleging that he used thugs and non-state actors to carry out official duties and that he was “selected” rather than duly elected as governor.

The contentious PDP statements, reproduced in the legal letter, accused Okpebholo of lawlessness, attacks on local councils, disregard for the rule of law and attempts to seize council funds to settle political debts.

The PDP further alleged that the Governor sponsored thugs to intimidate councillors and destabilise local government administration.

Okezie argued that the statements went beyond fair political criticism, describing them as “highly libellous” and capable of exposing the Governor to “public hatred, odium and opprobrium.”

“In addition, they have brought the reputation and image jealously built by our client over the years to the lowest estimation of reasonable and responsible citizens of this state and beyond,” the letter added.