“These appointments are not rewards or acts of patronage, but a call to serve the people of Edo State,” Okpebholo said. “Our administration came into office with a promise of practical governance, governance that delivers real impact in the lives of our people.”

Read Also:Okpebholo to restructure Edo APC

He charged the appointees to prioritize service delivery and work with diligence and integrity, adding that his government is focused on results, not propaganda.

“This is an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the development of our state,” he added. “Any act of corruption or sabotage will not be tolerated.”

Governor Okpebholo concluded by urging the new officials to uphold the public trust and remain accountable to the people of Edo State.

Source: Channels

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He stated this while speaking at a campaign rally in Esan West Local Government Area ahead of Saturday’s by-election in the state.

The Governor promised that his administration would strengthen the APC’s grassroots structures for future electoral victories.

He appealed to the APC faithful to remain united and committed.

According to him, “When I promised Mr. President 2.5 million votes, somebody asked me where I was going to get them. But you can see it happening already. Today, the number of people I have received as decampees into the APC is more than the number that was there before.

“We are going to redefine and reposition our party because the influx of people requires that we solidify and ensure the party is strong enough to carry everybody along. We will hold a meeting of decampees to restructure.”

Okpebholo visited Ogwa, Ujogba, wards 1 and 2, and Illeh, ward 10, where he received defectors from other political parties.

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The Governor urged the committee to handle the task carefully while the assignment was being carried out.

“We have to carry it out with the fear of God so that we can have especially the best time and result. We can see what is happening today. Herders clashes here and there,” he added.

In his acceptance speech, Esekhaigbe pledged the committee’s dedication to do the right thing.

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In a unanimous judgment, the three-member panel led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Asuerime Ighodalo.

The tribunal ruled that the petitioners failed to prove their allegations of over-voting and upheld that Okpebholo secured the highest number of valid votes.

The tribunal also criticized the manner in which the petitioners presented their evidence, stating that it did not sufficiently support their claims.

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The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, who disclosed this in a statement said the committee, which will be inaugurated on Tuesday, 26 November 2024, at Government  House in Benin City, will be chaired by  Ernest  Umakhihe.

Read Also: Okpebholo freezes Edo Government bank accounts

While Anslem Ojezua will serve as deputy chairman, Frank Edebor will act as secretary.

Other members of the committee include Kassim Afegbua, Patrick Ikhariale, Taiwo Akerele, Patrick  Idiake, and Rasaq Bello-Osagie. Additional members are Fredrick Unopah, Abdallah Eugenia, Patrick Obahiagbon, Kenny Okojie, Lyndsey Tes-Sorae, and Abass Braimoh.

Okpebholo in his inaugural speech on November 12 pledged that his administration would investigate the exclusion of 14 lawmakers from the State House of Assembly in 2019.

On Friday, the governor ordered a probe of the state civil service recruitment under Obaseki between  May and November 2024.

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He warned that non-compliance by commercial banks as well as heads of ministries, departments and agencies would result in severe penalties.

He also ordered the reversal of the Ministry of Roads and Bridges to its old name —- Ministry of Works —-with immediate effect.

Read Also: Okpebholo Sworn-In As Edo State Governor

The governor cited what he called lack of completed bridges or significant road projects as a justification for changing the ministry of roads and bridges back to ministry of works.

The governor directed immediate implementation and reflection of the new name across official documents and platforms.

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 The ceremony took place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, the state capital, two months after the All Progressives Congress ,APC, clinched the ticket to the Dennis Osadebay House.

Okpebholo took his oath of office alongside his running mate Dennis Idahosa.

The ceremony was attended by some dignitaries including Vice President Kashim Shettima who represented President Bola Tinubu; governors under the APC; Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo; a former governor of the Edo Adams Oshiomhole among others.

Their inauguration sums up an intriguing political season in Edo State that pitted former allies against each other, and godfathers against their mentees.

Okpebholo defeated Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, in the September 21 keenly-contested election. The APC candidate polled 291,667 as against his main rival’s score of 247,274 votes while Labour Party (LP)’s Olumide Akpata came a distant third with 22,763 votes in the polls contested by fourteen candidates.

Read Also : Okpebholo makes first appointment ahead of inauguration

Despite enjoying the backing of then-governor Obaseki, the PDP failed to continue its hold on power in Edo State, surrendering to the APC where the former governor clinched his first ticket to the seat.

Analysts believe the APC’s reclamation of Edo State is a testament to the fractured relationship between Philip Shuaibu (who served as Obaseki’s deputy) and Oshiomhole’s influence led to Okpebholo’s emergence.

But the PDP has faulted the victory, claiming its mandate was stolen. The party vowed to challenge Okpebholo’s win which they alleged was not the wishes of the people.

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Okpebholo approved the appointment of Fred Itua as Chief Press Secretary ahead of Tuesday’s assumption of office.

Read Also : APC borrowed N5billion to finance Okpebholo’s inauguration – Obaseki

Itua, a well-respected journalist who previously served as the Assistant Political Editor for The SunNewspaper, will begin his role immediately upon Okpebholo’s swearing-in.

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Obaseki, who disclosed this at the inauguration of 10-man caretaker committee members of the State’s PDP in Benin City, however, lamented that the outgoing government was not carried along nor invited for the inauguration.

He alleged that the incoming government has started spending the sum of almost N27 billion set aside for the payment for projects and other obligations by his administration.

According to reports gathered, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the candidate of the APC, who defeated the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in the State would be sworn-in on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.

Read Also : ‘Our Mandate Was Stolen’, PDP Files Petition At Tribunal

Also speaking, Asue Ighodalo, the party’s candidate at the September 21, 2024 governorship election, however charged the party to be ready for a tough battle and the journey to reclaim the stolen mandate.

Meanwhile, the State chapter of APC, had in a statement issued recently alleged that out of the N24.6 billion deposited into the Edo State Government’s account recently, a staggering N14 billion was siphoned by the outgoing government within one week.

The party also alleged that without due process to fiscal responsibility, Governor Obaseki had sought and received approval for three supplementary budgets since January 2024.

It noted the most recent of the supplementary budgets was the N450 billion allocation passed on the eve of the September 21, 2024 gubernatorial election by the State House of Assembly.

The statement further stated, the astronomical figure demands answers, adding that Edo people have a right to know where the resources have gone and why their future have been mortgaged by an outgoing administration that appears determined to empty the state coffers before leaving office.

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Shaibu said the APC Ward-to-Ward rally in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state was a resounding success.

Posting on X, the deputy Governor said the people of Edo State were resolute in their decision to vote for the APC on September 21.

He said they will vote for progress, development, and APC on September 21st.

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