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Tag: Okpebholo

  • Edo guber: Okpebholo remains our candidate – APC

    Edo guber: Okpebholo remains our candidate – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) says Sen. Monday Okpebholo remains its governorship candidate in Saturday’s governorship election in Edo.

    Mr Felix Morka, the party’s National Publicity Secretary made the party’s position clear in a statement issued in Abuja.

    Morka said the clarification became necessary following fake news that Okpebholo had been disqualified by a magistrate court.

    “In the final hours to the Edo gubernatorial election scheduled to hold Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, certain political parties have desperately resorted to forgery and disinformation on our candidate.

    “The blackmail is to the extent of circulating a fake magistrate court ruling purportedly disqualifying Sen.Okpebholo, the APC gubernatorial candidate in the election.

    “The circulated ruling is fake, a fabrication and an act of pure desperation in the face of their imminent defeat at the polls,” Morka said.

    He said the magistrate court that purportedly issued the fake ruling had issued a disclaimer, stating categorically that it did not emanate from him.

    Morka added that the fake ruling meant to sow seeds of doubt about the APC candidate, was a blatant and calculated attempt to subvert the will of the Edo electorate.

    “We call on our law enforcement agencies to identify, investigate and bring the perpetrators of  this falsehood to book,” he said.

    He, therefore, urged Edo voters to remain vigilant and resolute in the exercise of their democratic rights at the polls.

    He expressed trust that Edo people would ignore this and other illegal devices by desperate candidates and their parties to subvert the election.

    “Sen. Monday Okpebholo is and remains, the standard bearer of the APC in Edo gubernatorial election,” Morka stated.

  • Alleged perjury: Court adjourns case against Okpebholo indefinitely

    Alleged perjury: Court adjourns case against Okpebholo indefinitely

    A Magistrates’ Court in Abuja on Friday, adjourned hearing in the case filed against Sen. Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s governorship candidate in the Saturday election in Edo, indefinitely.

    Magistrate Abubakar Mukhtar adjournment followed an order of Justice O.C. Agbaza of the FCT High Court granting leave for Okpebholo to file an application for the judicial review of Mukhtar’s criminal summons against him.

    Justice Agbaza, who granted the motion ex-parte moved by Okpebholo’s lawyer, Adaze Emwanta, adjourned the matter until Oct. 28 for hearing.

    NAN reports that the magistrate had, on Sept. 12, summoned Okpebholo for allegedly making a false statement on his date of birth.

    The APC candidate was asked to appear before the court at 12 noon today, Sept. 20, by Mukhtar.

    He was accused of claiming conflicting dates of birth in his nomination forms submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest the election.

    The case, with suit no CR/W22/816/2024 before the magistrate, was instituted by an indigene of Edo, Honesty Aginbatse.

    Against this order, Okpebholo, through his lawyer, Emwanta, filed a suit before the FCT High Court.

    The applicant listed Mr Aginbatse and Mukhtar, who is Magistrate Grade 1 in the FCT, as  1st and 2nd respondents.

    After the ex-parte motion was moved, Justice Agbaza granted the two reliefs sought.

    However, when the matter was called on Friday at the Magistrate Court sitting at Wuse Zone 2, neither Aginbatse nor Okpebholo was in court.

    Lawyer to Aginbatse (complainant), R.O. Azinye, told the court that the matter was slated for mention.

    Azinye informed the court that the defendant (Okpebholo) had not been served despite several attempts to do so.

    He said in view of that, he had filed a motion ex-parte for substituted service on Okpebholo.

    But before the lawyer proceeded to adopt his application, the magistrate drew his attention to the order of the FCT High Court that granted leave for judicial review.

    Mukhtar held that following the order for a judicial review of the summons issued against Okpebholo, the case be adjourned sine die (indefinitely) pending the determination of the motion on notice pending before the FCT High Court.

    NAN reports that Okpebholo’s motion, dated and filed on Sept. 17 sought two orders pursuant to Section 6(6)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended); Orders 44 Rule 3 and 43 Rule 1 of FCT High Court Civil Procedure Rules, 2018 anf under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

    The prayers included “an order granting the applicant leave to file an application for judicial review involving an Order of Certiorari against the order of the 2nd respondent; in issuing criminal summons against the applicant, upon the charge/request of the 1st respondent herein.

    “An order granting leave for the applicant to file an application for judicial review involving an Order of Prohibition against the order of the 2nd respondent; in issuing criminal summons against the applicant, upon the charge/request of the 1st respondent herein.”

    In the 11-ground of arguments filed by his lawyer, the APC candidate said the order issuing criminal summons against him over alleged date of birth forgery was made by Mukhtar without caution and due diligence.

    He averred that the charge was contrived by Aginbatse as a ploy to scandalise his image ahead of the Saturday’s poll and to prevent him from presenting himself a d a candidate in the election.

    He said the allegations made on the face of the charge before the magistrate had earlier been resolved at the registry of the Supreme Court by virtue of a Deed Pool and gazetted in the official gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Aug. 1.

    Okpebholo said on Sept. 12 at about 5pm, his attention was drawn to a criminal summons against him and signed by the magistrate which was flying on the social meda.

    He said he observed that the magistrate ordered the summons in respect of an allegation of making false statement concerning his date of birth for which he had already done a Deed of Regularisation.

    Besides, he said the aforesaid document bearing his name as accused person was not served on him, but was immediately posted on the social media to scandalise his public image ahead of the gubernatorial polls.

    Okpebholo said the hearing of the criminal summons was intentionally fixed on September 20 (Friday), the eve of the election, as a ploy to prevent him from presenting himself as a candidate in the polls.

  • Edo: Akpabio drums support for Okpebholo, promises Edolites dividends of democracy

    Edo: Akpabio drums support for Okpebholo, promises Edolites dividends of democracy

    The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has said Edo people stood to enjoy more dividends of democracy from the Federal Government if they vote in an administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State in the forth coming governorship election.

    Senator Akpabio spoke on Saturday at an APC grand rally in Benin City, Edo State. The rally had in attendance the Vice-President, Kashim Shetima, the National Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje and about 12 Governors of the APC extraction among other dignitaries.

    A statement by the Special Assistant on Media and Communication to the President of the Senate, Anietie Ekong quoted Senator Akpabio as urging Edo people to return the State to the Centre by voting for the APC candidates, Senator Monday Okpebholo and Honourable Dennis Idahosa.

    Senator Akpabio revealed that the Federal Government had awarded the contract for the construction of Auchi – Benin road for over N11 billion and work was ongoing and assured that more Federal projects will be executed in the State with an APC administration in the saddle.

    According to Senator Akpabio, “My presence here today is to let you know that I have implicit confidence in the capacity of the duo of Senator Okpebholo and Honourable Idahosa as members of the National Assembly to bring the desired change to Edo and return the State to the path of progress.

    “A vote for Senator Okpebholo is a vote for infrastructural renaissance in Edo State and end the present decay that the State is witnessing. The APC administration will bring about empowerment and employment to the youths and I urge you to join hands and return the State to the path of development,” he said.

    Also speaking, Vice-President Shetima said the expectaions of the Nigerian people remain the same no matter their differences in ethnicity, gender or religion and assured that the Federal Government will ensure that more resources are put into the development of the States.

    Former Governor of the State and Senator representing Edo North, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole lamented the present situation that Edo State has found itself after his exit as the Governor.

    He said the administration of Mr Godwin Obaseki had destroyed the State and had only engaged in ground-breaking ceremonies and signing of memorandum of undertanding with nothing tangible to show for the homonguous allocation that had accrued to the State. He urged the people to vote massively for Senator Okpebholo to turn the tide around.

    The rally witnessed the defection of high profile politicians in the State from other parties who were received by the APC National Chairman, Ganduje.

    The team led by Vice-President Shetima had earlier paid a courtesy visit on the Oba of Benin His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II.

  • Edo poll: Court summons Okpebholo over alleged age falsification

    Edo poll: Court summons Okpebholo over alleged age falsification

    A Magistrates’ Court in Abuja has summoned Sen. Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2024 Edo elections, to appear before it over alleged age falsification.

    He is charged with forgery and perjury.

    The suit , filed by a PDP Chieftain,  Honesty Aginbatse, on Sept 12 alleged discrepancies in the birth dates provided in the nomination forms Okpebholo submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Sen. Okpebholo is to appear before magistrate , Abubakar Mukhtar on Sept 20.

    Magistrate Mukthar adjourned the case until Sept. 20.

    Aginbatse alleged that Okpebholo’s 2023 Senate nomination form listed his birth date as March 29, 1970.

    He added that however, Okpebholo‘s 2024 governorship nomination forms contained Aug. 29, 1970  an an age declaration form and Aug.  29, 1972 on his West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate.

    Aginbatse also alleged that Okpebholo, had Aug. 1, 1977 as his date of birth on his INEC voter card.

    He stated that Under Section 182.1 (d) of the Nigerian Constitution, a conviction for offenses involving dishonesty or fraud disqualifies a person from running for governor, raising questions about Okpebholo’s eligibility if convicted.

  • Group raises alarm over Okpebholo’s plan to scrap new salary scheme for teachers

    Group raises alarm over Okpebholo’s plan to scrap new salary scheme for teachers

    The Edo Salvation Group has expressed anger over the promise by Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate in Edo State to abandon the new salary package for teachers in the state.

    Speaking at a campaign rally in Auchi on Monday, September 9, 2024, Okpebholo vowed to discard the salary package being implemented by the Obaseki administration in favour of the yet to be implemented proposal of the Federal Government.

    National Coordinator of the Edo Salvation Group, Imman Ekpe in a statement following the APC rally expressed concern over the promise by Okpebholo to reverse the fortune of teachers in the state in favour of the suspense that presently faces federal workers over the new minimum wage.

    Noting that teachers in Edo State have been enjoying the N70,000 minimum wage since May 2024, the ESG said it was alarmed by the plan by Okpebholo to turn back the hand of the clock.

    The ESG quoted Okpebholo to have said: “We are going to ensure that we pay them (teachers) according to the law of the Federal Government of Nigeria, not Obaseki’s way of paying teachers.”

    Responding, the ESG said:

    “We are shocked by another gaffe by the APC candidate even if he followed up on our threat by coming up to say he will provide security and not INSECURITY as he said last Thursday in Ovia North when he missed his script as dictated by Senator Adams Oshiomhole.

    “However, whether he missed his script on education is now lost on us given his promise to abandon the new salary package for workers and teachers in Edo State. This is another disaster from the APC candidate and we urge voters to shine their eyes and open their ears to the plan by the APC to reverse their situation.”

    “We are again calling on Okpebholo to prepare to defend this proposal at the forthcoming debate for governorship candidates.”

  • Okpebholo under radar: Given 24 hours to explain promise of providing Insecurity

    Okpebholo under radar: Given 24 hours to explain promise of providing Insecurity

    The Edo Salvation Group, ESG has placed APC guber candidate, Senator Monday Okpebhelo under radar over the viral video of pledging to provide INSECURITY as governor of Edo State.

    The group in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, September 8, 2024 and issued by its national coordinator, Imman Ekpe said it was seriously bothered by the viral video showing Senator Okpebhelo vowing to provide insecurity to Edo State as governor.

    Noting that it had waited days for Okpebhelo and his enablers including Senator Adams Oshiomhole to deny the video, the group said that it was now satisfied that the video was apparently not a fabrication.

    “Like many people in the Edo State project we were concerned about the video that showed the APC governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebhelo saying that he will provide insecurity to his listeners.

    “Like many other stakeholders we have watched and watched the video, seen the gesticulation of Senator Oshiomhole and we are now fully convinced that the video was not a fabrication.

    “We believe that this is a serious issue that must not be put aside and we truly believe that Senator Okpebhelo does not understand what he said.

    “While we pardon him for his error, but it also underscores the issues before the voters going into this election. It brings to question the capacity of the candidate who has made several other gaffes including using transformers as the complete answer to electricity.

    “These gaffes clearly point to the fact that Senator Okpehelo is not an option as he will either be a dummy for Oshiomhole or really provide Edo State with insecurity through his gaffes if he becomes governor through his lack of capacity.

    “In the light of this we painfully ask Senator Okpehbelo to within 24 hours go on television to explain what he meant by providing insecurity or we would come out to openly disclaim him as a candidate fit for office.”

  • Edo: PDP campaign DG derides Oshiomhole, Okpebholo over Federal roads

    Edo: PDP campaign DG derides Oshiomhole, Okpebholo over Federal roads

    All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpehello and former governor of the state, Senator Adams Oshiomhole have been mocked over their alleged indifference to the state of federal roads in the state.

    The director-general of the Asue Ighodalo Campaign, Hon Matthew Iduoriyekemwen called out the two APC senators at a campaign rally in Ekpoma just as party chiefs lamented what they claimed as the bid by Oshiomhole to foist an unintelligible governor on the state to achieve his personal desires.

    Speaking in pidgin English on the state of the road, Iduoriyekemwen, a former member of the Edo State House of Assembly lamented the state of federal roads saying that the two APC senators, Oshiomhole and Okpebhello were indifferent to the conditions and as such failed to put them as part of their constitutency projects.

    “Look at our federal roads in Edo. All the time I used to travel to Abuja it used to take me five to six hours to travel to Abuja from Benin, but now from Auchi to Benin can take you up to nine hours.

    “Oshiomhole is a senator, Okpebholo is a senator instead of them to divert their constituency projects to work on the roads they refused. Now they say that they want to buy our future.”

    The rally was also attended by Governor Godwin Obaseki who urged the voters to vote for Ighodalo so he could build on the legacy that his administration had laid.

    According to Governor Obaseki, a blueprint for the development of the state for the next 30 years had been established and he as such vote for Ighodalo who he said was best positioned to sustain the development agenda.

    The state PDP chairman, Dr Tony Aziegbemi also rallied party supporters to be steadfast in their support and not to allow the opportunity of producing the governor slip from them.

    In his own address, Ighodalo vowed to ensure that the manifesto which he said was garnered from discussions with stakeholders across the different wards in the state was fully implemented.

    He disclaimed claims by political opponents who he said were using the name of President Bola Tinubu to intimidate voters and state agencies with the intention of rigging the election. Ighodalo said that Tinubu is a democrat who will not use the apparatus of the state to foist partisan political agenda.

  • Okpebholo: Edo govt denies plan to cause crisis if suspects are arrested

    Okpebholo: Edo govt denies plan to cause crisis if suspects are arrested

    Edo State government has denied any plan to cause mayhem should those responsible for the July 18 attack on Sen. Sunday Okpebholo and Philip Shaibu were arrested and prosecuted.

    Recall that Okpebholo, the governorship candidate of APC and Shaibu, the just reinstated deputy governor of the state, were attacked on their arrival in Benin from Abuja by gunmen.

    In the attack a police officer was killed and many others injured.

    The state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said on Monday  in Benin that the governor was only reacting to alleged plans by the opposition to rig the election come Sept. 21.

    Nehikhare said, in a statement, that the governor planned to seek redress in court should the election be rigged.

    The commissioner said the governor’s statement followed a call by the APC for the impeachment of Godwin Obaseki for allegedly calling for mayhem should the killers of a police officer in the Benin airport attack were arrested.

    Nehikhare noted that the threat was only in respect to the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

    He accused the APC of plotting to disrupt a peaceful election, citing the recent violence and mayhem caused by the party’s supporters.

    “The APC has clearly shown their plan for the Sept. 21 governorship election, which is to cause mayhem, make the state ungovernable, and take advantage of the chaos to manipulate the forthcoming governorship election,” he said.

    The commissioner advised the opposition to “read the mood of the nation” and stop what would lead to crisis in the country.

    NAN

  • Suspects in attack on Okpebholo, Shaibu gone into hiding – Police

    Suspects in attack on Okpebholo, Shaibu gone into hiding – Police

    The Police in Edo say gunmen  involved in the attack on Monday Okpebholo, APC Governorship Candidate for Edo and the state’s reinstated deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, have gone into hiding.

    The Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye said this on Monday while giving an update on the investigation into the July 18 attack on Airport Road in Benin.

    Recall that some suspected political thugs attacked Okpebholo and Shaibu, while exiting the Benin Airport, shortly after their arrival from Abuja.

    In the attack, the gunmen killed an Inspector of Police, Onu Akon, an orderly to Okpebholo and injured many others.

    Adegboye said those fingered in the bloody attack had fled the state.

    The commissioner of police, who failed to mention names of the suspects under investigation, assured the public that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.

    “Investigations are ongoing to unravel the mystery surrounding the killing of the gallant officer and attempted murder of Okpebholo.

    He said the command would not leave any stone unturned to fish out the perpetrators.

    According to him, the police have dropped the invitation with their family members.

    “If they fail to honour the invitation, appropriate legal procedure will be followed and this may include declaring them wanted,” he said.

  • I’ll not rest until killers of my aide is brought to book, Okpebholo vows

    I’ll not rest until killers of my aide is brought to book, Okpebholo vows

    Sen. Monday Okpebholo, Edo governorship candidate of APC for Sept. 21 off-cycle election, says he will not rest until the killers of his security aide, Insp. Onu Akon, are brought to book.

    The Commissioner of Police in Edo, Funsho Adegboye on Friday during a news conference confirmed the killing of Akon during the attack on the convoy of the APC candidate and the reinstated deputy governor of the state, Philips Shaibu.

    Okpebholo and Shaibu were attacked by gunmen on Thursday at the exit gate of the Benin Airport, on his arrival from Abuja. Akon was killed in the process.

    In his condolence message, Okpebholo demanded justice for the police orderly, saying the perpetrators of the unprovoked brutal attack must be charged.

    Contrary to a report by the state government earlier on Friday that an opposition was allegedly responsible for the attack, Okpebholo said Shaibu was with him and some of his supporters were also injured.

    He said the injured were currently receiving treatments in various hospitals in Benin City.

    Okpebholo has expressed sadness and condoled with the family of his orderly during the unprovoked attack.

    “I will not rest until the perpetrators of the unprovoked brutal attack on him leading to the cruel and violent killing of Inspector Akon are brought to justice.

    “I empathise with the injured members of his convoy, who are receiving treatments in various hospitals in Benin City,” he said.

    Okpebholo described the police inspector as good and one of the finest in the Nigeria Police Force.

    “Inspector Akon was unreservedly committed to his assigned duty, and due to his exceptional commitment and effective policing we became friends for over 12 years,” he said.

    He assured the bereaved family members that the brutal killing of their breadwinner would not be swept under the carpet by any guise.

    Okpebholo prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased and speedy recovery for the injured during the attack.