Outgoing Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has claimed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) borrowed between N2 billion and N5 billion for the inauguration of Governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, scheduled for November 12.
Speaking at the inauguration of the caretaker committee for the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benin, Obaseki expressed displeasure, noting that the APC did not involve his administration in the planning. He stated, “We have nearly N27 billion set aside for ongoing projects, yet they’ve begun borrowing to fund the inauguration, estimated at N2 to N5 billion. It seems they intend to exhaust public funds to sway perceptions.”
Obaseki added that he had not been invited to the inauguration event, likening it to the creation of an entirely new government. He reassured PDP members of his continued presence and commitment to the party, vowing to challenge what he referred to as the APC’s “stolen mandate,” emphasizing its significance for Nigeria’s democracy.
In response, Prince Kassim Afegbua, a member of the APC transition committee, dismissed Obaseki’s claims. He questioned why the outgoing administration would avoid organizing the handover ceremony. “Isn’t it the responsibility of the outgoing government to handle the inauguration?” Afegbua asked, suggesting that Obaseki’s stance was an indictment of his own administration.
