APC Explains Why Obaseki Was Excluded from Okpebholo’s Inauguration

The All Progressives Congress (APC) transition committee has responded to allegations from outgoing Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, explaining why he was not invited to the inauguration of Senator Monday Okpebholo as the new governor of the state.

The APC committee claims that Obaseki had been actively working to frustrate the inauguration ceremony, which is scheduled to take place on November 12, 2024.

In a statement issued on Sunday by Prince Kassim Afegbua, a member of the APC transition committee, the group accused the outgoing governor of planting “landmines” in an attempt to hinder a smooth power transfer.

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According to Afegbua, instead of facilitating the inauguration process as is customary, Obaseki had been focused on disrupting the transition.

“This is not the way it is done in other places where the outgoing governor or president organizes the inauguration of the incoming leader,” Afegbua said. “Instead, Governor Obaseki and his colleagues have been doing everything possible to frustrate the inauguration of the incoming Governor.”

The transition committee also addressed Obaseki’s claims regarding alleged borrowing for the inauguration.

The outgoing governor had suggested that Okpebholo’s administration had borrowed between N2 billion and N5 billion from a fund set aside for paying state obligations, accusing them of mismanaging resources ahead of the event.

In response, Afegbua described Obaseki’s remarks as “generously laughable” and “self-indicting,” reiterating that the inauguration budget was not sourced through borrowing. “We have not borrowed a kobo,” he said, emphasizing that Okpebholo had chosen to fund the inauguration from his own resources, in line with his commitment to a modest ceremony.

Afegbua further highlighted that despite the APC’s efforts to collaborate with the outgoing administration, the transition team had faced obstruction.

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He also raised concerns over the alleged misappropriation of government resources, claiming that government vehicles had been removed from the state government house, with only one functional vehicle remaining.

“Why should we borrow money for the inauguration when government vehicles are being carted away?” Afegbua questioned, urging a transparent handover process and criticizing Obaseki’s approach to power transfer.

Governor Obaseki, who will complete his two terms in office on November 12, 2024, had previously lamented not being invited to the inauguration, expressing frustration over what he perceived as an effort to confuse the public and mismanage state resources.