‘I’m ready to probe, fight Obaseki,’ Okpebholo declares after Supreme court victory

By Jethro Ibileke

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, on Friday, said he is now ready to probe his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki after his victory at the September 21 governorship election was affirmed by the Supreme Court.

The Governor disclosed this while speaking during a victory party held on Friday, July 11, 2025, in Government House, Benin City, Edo State.

He said his administration will set up a Commission of Inquiry to look into former Governor Godwin Obaseki’s records.

Okpebholo, while addressing the crowd, alleged that the Obaseki-led administration used consultants to run the affairs while he looted the treasury dry.

He further revealed that his administration, while opening the books of EdoGIS, discovered that a consultant was hired and paid ₦6 billion and another additional ₦2 billion for “ordinary software.”

The Governor noted that his administration has developed its own software and has sent the consultant packing.

“I directed training of our own people who are now handling the job. We have sent the consultant away from the State, saving money to develop Edo State.

“Our civil servants are well trained. We have the best brains in the State, but Godwin Obaseki used consultants instead of utilizing the human resources in the State.

“We are saving money today as a Government because we are using the civil servants to do the jobs consultants were formerly doing.

“We are just about eight months in office, but by the time we are two years in office, Edo people will know they have a Governor who is ready to work for the interest of the people.”

Governor Okpebholo assured Edo people that his administration would open the books to check the dealings of the previous administration, led by Godwin Obaseki.

“I will open the books to check the financial dealings and how Obaseki governed Edo State in the last eight years.

“A University in this State received ₦47 million under Obaseki’s administration, while he paid consultant ₦51 million. This was not good enough. They wanted to continue with this act, but God helped us to push them out.

“Since I came into the office, I have not sacked anybody but rather continue with the civil servants I met in the office. The Head of Service during Obaseki’s administration is still working with me. So also with a lot of Permanent Secretaries in the civil service,” he noted.

He said his administration will set up a Commission of Inquiry and the books of the previous administration will be opened and officials of that administration will be interrogated on how they governed Edo people in the last eight years.

“Edo was tired of transactional people and thieves, but now we will look into their records. I will take two years out of eight years, and Edo people will see the difference.

“We will set up a Commission of Inquiry to look into the books and dealings of the previous administration. We will open interrogation to check their records.

“They have finished fighting us, and now I am ready to fight back and ensure that all those that cheated Edo people in the last eight years are all brought to book,” he said.

Governor Okpebholo told APC supporters that Asue Ighodalo and his party kept money for the election as well as for court cases.

“They were looking for judges to bribe or buy, but they could not find any. They kept money for election as well as court cases, but God disappointed them. The people voted for me as their Governor, and the various courts affirmed the mandate. The Supreme Court judgment is the final as the five judges ruled in my favour,” he said.