The People’s Democratic Party in Edo State has again raised concerns over what it describes as impunity on the part of the APC-led administration in the state since taking over on November 12, 2024.
The Chairman of Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, Anthony Aziegbemi stated this during a press briefing on Tuesday at the party’s State Secretariat in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
The statement read, “It has become imperative to call this press conference to draw the attention of the public and other stakeholders to the very troubling and disturbing developments in Edo State under the All Progressives Congress-led administration, which, if not appropriately addressed, could spell doom for our democracy and serve as a recipe for anarchy and instability, thereby threatening the peace, progress and security of our dear state.
“It is most unfortunate and disappointing that in just 14 days in office, the governor-select, Monday Okpebholo, through his actions and inactions, has succeeded in setting a dangerous tone for crisis and breach of public peace, and we are worried that this troubling precedent may just be an ignition for a conflagration that may well be avoided.
“He added that the new Edo governor and his deputy are yet to formally resign their respective seats in the National Assembly.
“Two weeks after their inauguration on November 12, the governor-select, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his deputy, Denis Idahosa, have failed to officially resign from their respective seats in the Senate and the House of Representatives, denying their constituencies of representation at the National Assembly in line with section 68(1)d of the 1999 Constitution as amended, “A member of the Senate or the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if he becomes President, Vice President, Governor, Deputy Governor or a Minister of the Government of the Federation or a Commissioner of the Government of a State or a Special Adviser.
“How can they simultaneously hold the positions of Governor and Senator, as well as Deputy Governor and Member of the House of Representatives? It is only right and constitutional that they should resign their membership, allowing their seats to be declared vacant and paving the way for a by-election.
“But again, APC thrives on illegality and lawlessness, and has continued to thread on the infamous path, while making a mockery of their constituents.”
The Edo PDP caretaker boss also berated Governor Okpebholo over a flyover bridge contract awarded.
He insisted the project did not follow due process in line with the State’s Public Procurement Act.
“We are also aware that the ‘emergency’ overhead bridge flagged off by the Okpebholo-led government at Ramat Park, Benin City, bypassed all standard procurement procedures.
“The flyover is nothing but a white elephant project to reward godfathers for their role in subverting the will of Edo people at the just concluded gubernatorial election, and we demand that the government makes public the procurement procedure for this project, stating the cost of the project and timeline, how the contractors were selected and whether the process complied with the State’s Public Procurement Act, among other details relating to the project.
“We are aware that the Governor-elect is dismantling all the levers of government and governance that he inherited and so we are not surprised that he considers the state’s procurement act an hindrance that must be dismantled.
“Governor-elect Okpebholo has procured over N5bn worth of vehicles without proper procurement process which has created a crisis to the extent that PS Governor’s Office is threatening civil servants in Central administration for refusing to accept vehicles due to improper documentation, while desperately looking for ways to pass entries for over N2bn of inauguration costs.
“The Edo State procurement act is at risk and we must all speak up! “
