The All Progressive Congress, APC, on Saturday, January 4, 2025, described as completely unfounded and misleading, the Peoples Democratic Party’s allegations that the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, was behind the attacks on, and subsequent prevention of some local council officials from accessing their offices by suspected hoodlums.
The Source reports that suspected thugs had, on Monday, December 30 2024, barricaded the entrances to some Local Government Secretariats including that of Etsako West and Akoko Edo, attacked some officials, and prevented the Chairmen and their Deputies from going into their offices.
The development was preceded by an orgy of violence, disruptions of local council activities, rising political tensions, and brickbats, that trailed the controversial suspension of the elected Edo state local council chairmen and their deputies by Governor Okpebholo.
The Council officials were elected on the platform of the PDP, while the Governor is of the APC extraction.
The 18 Council men were suspended on December 17, 2024, over alleged failure to make available their financial records to the assets recovery committee instituted by the Governor.
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, however, has since declared the action of the Governor as strange to extant laws of the land.
Only on Thursday January,2,2025 the Caretaker Chairman of the PDP in Edo state ,Tony Aziegbemi, pointedly domiciled the blame for the convulsions rocking the Councils on the door steps of Governor Okpepholo,
In a statement, the PDP leadership in the State, accused the Governor of sponsoring political thugs to attack and chase out local council officials.
The Party, therefore; called President Bola Tinubu and the national leadership of the APC to rein in the Governor before he sets the State on fire.
But reacting to the PDP accusations, the Edo State Chairman of the APC, Jarret Tenebe, in a statement also accused the PDP of recklessness and irresponsibility.
According to him, the PDP allegations against the Governor are politically motivated ,as well as a calculated attempt to distract and divert attention from its mis-governance of the State.
The Chairman alleged that credible intelligence at the disposal of the party, has proven that the attacks on the local councils were perpetrated by rival factions within the PDP itself in a seemingly battle of supremacy.
“As a responsible party, we feel compelled to set the record straight and provide a more accurate account of the events that transpired.
After conducting a thorough investigation and gathering evidence from multiple sources we can categorically state that the allegations made against Governor Okpebholo are baseless, misleading and politically motivated.
“Firstly, it is essential to note that the Governor has consistently demonstrated his commitment to upholding the rule of law and respecting the democratic process.
“His administration has been characterized by a strong governance, transparency ,and accountability, which has earned him the respect of and admiration of the people of Edo State.
“Contrary to the claims made in the report, our investigation revealed that the incidents were not orchestrated by the Governor or his agents.
“Instead, they were the result of internal conflicts and power struggles within the Local Government councils which have been ongoing for several months.
“Governor Okpebholo’s administration has been working to resolve these conflicts and ensure that the councils are run in a peaceful and democratic manner”, the APC statement reads in part .
The ruling party in the state ,further informed that ,documents at its disposal also lend credence to the fact that Governor Okpepholo has been respecting all subsisting court orders ,as they relate to the issue of the councils.
The APC noted that the State Government ,has been interfacing with all relevant stakeholders in its efforts and commitment towards promoting the ideals of democratic processes ,as well as the fundamental rights of all parties in the state”, Tenebe stated.
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