The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has leveled serious accusations against Governor Monday Okpebholo, claiming Okphebolo plans to squander N2.8 billion to bribe opposition lawmakers in the State House of Assembly to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The allegation was outlined in a statement signed by Chris Nehikhare, the Publicity Secretary of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee.
According to the statement, the governor plans to use the substantial sum to entice lawmakers to join the APC amidst ongoing security challenges, including frequent killings and kidnappings of farmers and residents in the state.
Currently, the 24-member Edo State House of Assembly consists of 13 PDP lawmakers and one from the Labour Party. Nehikhare condemned the alleged bribery plan, describing it as a reckless misuse of state resources.
The statement, dated March 6, 2025, was titled: ‘Edo PDP Condemns Okpebholo’s N200M Bribery Ploy to Buy Defection of Each Assembly Member: A Reckless Misappropriation of State Resources.’
As the situation unfolds, the PDP has expressed outrage over what it perceives as an attempt to destabilize the state’s political landscape in the midst of critical security concerns.
He said, “The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is aware of the ploy by Senator Monday Okpebholo to splash N200 million each to induce members of the Edo State House of Assembly elected on the PDP platform to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“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.
“In the last few weeks alone, at least 34 innocent Edo citizens have allegedly been brutally murdered across various communities in the State as a result of rising insecurity. While properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed on the back of the ongoing security crisis.
“Small and large-scale farmers are being displaced daily, more communities are being sacked by rampaging kidnappers and herders, while others, including the city centre is being overrun by non-state actors, leaving residents in fear and economic activities disrupted.
“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.
“Unfortunately, amidst all these challenges, Okpebholo’s only concern is his political survival, as he schemes, along with his many political godfathers, to squander billions of naira that should be used to improve the lives of Edo people, on inducing Assembly members to defect to the APC.
“This is executive rascality at its peak and we dare say that this brazen act of corruption and reckless misplacement of priorities is shameful and unacceptable.
“We are not however surprised by Okpebholo’s alleged insatiable appetite for power at the expense of development and security of the State, having come to the office unprepared through the backdoor,” he alleged.
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on concerned citizens, civil society organizations, and anti-corruption agencies to take a stand against what it describes as the “abuse of power” and the “reckless misappropriation of state resources” allegedly perpetrated by Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The PDP emphasised that, despite the alleged schemes of the governor and the APC, the party remains steadfast and undeterred. They vowed to continue to fight against what they termed “evil machinations” in the state.
This accusation comes on the heels of earlier claims made by the PDP on March 3, 2025, that Okpebholo had been withdrawing N750 million monthly as a security vote, even as Edo State struggles with an escalating wave of kidnappings and criminal activities.
The PDP has repeatedly accused criminal gangs of operating unchecked, exploiting the deteriorating security situation, while residents and business owners live in constant fear.
In response to these allegations, Paul Ohonbamu, Edo State’s Commissioner for Information and Communication, dismissed the claims, suggesting that if opposition legislators were to defect, it would not be for financial reasons as alleged by the PDP, but because they were “fed up” with being part of an unproductive alliance.
In a statement dated March 7, 2025, titled “Nehikhare’s Defection Story: A Lie by the Dead PDP in Edo State”, Ohonbamu mocked the PDP’s complaints, asserting that the party’s lamentations would do little to prevent its decline in the state.
He suggested that the PDP was on the verge of collapse, with strong indications that it would soon cease to exist in Edo State, regardless of any attacks or campaigns against the Okpebholo administration.
The statement read, “It is not surprising to know that PDP members in the State House of Assembly are going to cross over to the All Progressives Congress, APC .
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“Chris Nehikhare lamented in a statement titled, Edo PDP condemns Okpebholo’s N200M bribery ploy to buy defection of each Assembly member, reckless misappropriation of state resources
“For the information of Edo People, The Governor, Senator 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 All Progressives Congress, APC.
“Interestingly, if PDP members in the State House of Assembly decide to defect, it is nothing but survivalist strategy, because Godwin Obaseki destroyed the Party with his bad and wicked policies which apparently led to the defeat of their Governorship Candidate Asue Ighodalo at the polls.
“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.
“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.”
 has leveled serious accusations against Governor Monday Okpebholo, claiming Okphebolo plans to squander N2.8 billion to bribe opposition lawmakers in the State House of Assembly to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).){kind=link}