The outgoing Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has raised allegations against the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the party of borrowing between N2 billion and N5 billion to finance the inauguration of the incoming governor. Obaseki made these claims during the inauguration of a 10-man caretaker committee for the State’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benin City on Friday. He expressed frustration that the outgoing administration had been excluded from the inauguration process and not invited to participate.
Senator Monday Okpebholo, the APC candidate who triumphed over the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, in the September 21, 2024 governorship election, is scheduled to be sworn in on Tuesday, November 12, 2024. Obaseki, speaking at the event, alleged that the incoming administration had already begun spending significant amounts from the N27 billion set aside by his government for ongoing projects and obligations.
Obaseki criticized the incoming government for its apparent rush to spend large sums of money during the holiday season, suggesting that this was an attempt to mislead the public and manipulate perceptions. He claimed that the APC administration was draining state funds by borrowing up to N5 billion for the inauguration while neglecting vital commitments. “They are doing an inauguration and the governor is not even invited. It is like they are starting a brand new government and a brand new state,” he remarked.
Further addressing the gathered PDP members, Obaseki reassured them that he would continue to offer guidance, insisting that he would never leave the party despite his impending departure from office. He vowed that the PDP would reclaim its “stolen mandate,” warning that if the APC were allowed to retain power, it would mark a critical blow to democracy in Nigeria. He emphasized that this battle was not just for the party’s candidate but for the future of Nigeria’s democracy.
Asue Ighodalo, the PDP’s candidate in the September election, also spoke at the event, urging party members to prepare for the tough legal battle ahead. He noted that the party was expecting a response to their petition next week and emphasized the importance of standing firm in the fight to reclaim the mandate. He added that the legal process would continue through the pre-hearing stages before the major hearing begins, with hopes of justice by the end of November.
Meanwhile, the APC’s state chapter has countered Obaseki’s allegations with a statement of its own. The party claimed that out of the N24.6 billion deposited into the state government’s account recently, a substantial N14 billion had been siphoned by the outgoing administration within just one week. The APC also accused Obaseki of bypassing fiscal responsibility by securing three supplementary budgets since January 2024, the most recent being a N450 billion allocation passed just before the gubernatorial election. The APC raised concerns over the legitimacy of these budget allocations, suggesting they were part of a strategy to misappropriate state resources. They further claimed that the outgoing administration’s spending had pushed the total sum squandered during Obaseki’s tenure to an astronomical N2 trillion. According to the APC, the people of Edo have a right to know how their resources were spent and why the state’s financial future was being jeopardized by the outgoing administration.
