 in Edo State.){kind=link}
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has issued a five-day ultimatum to Chris Nehikhare, the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, and a party chieftain, Shedrach Udugbai, demanding an unreserved apology for what he describes as defamatory remarks made against him.
Governor Okpebholo’s legal team claims that Nehikhare and Udugbai made false and damaging allegations at different times and on various platforms.
Nehikhare is accused of making “defamatory and baseless claims” in a press statement issued on March 10, 2025, titled: “Edo PDP Condemns Okpebholo’s N200m Bribery Ploy to Buy Defection of Each Assembly Member.”
The statement also contained allegations of “reckless misappropriation of state resources” and claims that the governor attempted to persuade councillors across Edo State’s 18 local government areas to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) by offering them ₦2 million each.
Similarly, Udugbai allegedly defamed the governor during an appearance on This Morning on ITV, a program aired on Benin-based Independent Television (ITV) on March 13, 2025.
During the broadcast, Udugbai claimed that Governor Okpebholo had bribed three PDP lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly with ₦200 million each to join the APC.
A pre-action notice issued by the governor’s legal representatives, Dr. Blessing Agbomhere and Taiwo Elizabeth Olorunfemi, stated that these accusations suggest that Governor Okpebholo is corrupt, engages in bribery, and mismanages public resources.
The notice further asserted that such statements paint the governor as “a dishonest man incapable of leading Edo State or holding any public office.”
The legal notice also expressed concern over the widespread dissemination of the allegations through platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, arguing that the extensive reach of these statements has caused significant reputational damage to the governor.
Governor Okpebholo’s legal team maintains that the claims are entirely false and a deliberate attempt to tarnish his reputation.
They emphasized that the governor has been widely recognized as a competent leader, effectively managing the state’s resources.
Before assuming office as governor, Okpebholo served as a senator, where he reportedly carried out his legislative duties with integrity, leading to his nomination as the APC’s candidate for the governorship election.
The legal notice stressed that he has never been accused, arrested, or convicted of financial misconduct or any other crime, either in Nigeria or elsewhere.
“It is difficult to understand why our client’s name was dragged into an issue concerning the defection of lawmakers from your party due to internal dissatisfaction,” the legal notice read.
The notice further argued that the allegations were intended to subject the governor to public ridicule and undermine his credibility in the eyes of the public.
Governor Okpebholo is now demanding a formal apology from both Nehikhare and Udugbai within five days, failing which legal action may be taken against them.