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   Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Friday led a powerful coalition of All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in formally endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in 2027.  The endorsement, which took place in Edo Central, brought together key political figures including the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa,  Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole and the Minister for Regional Development, Hon. Abubakar Momoh, among others. The event also featured the official reception of prominent decampees from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) into the APC, signaling a renewed sense of unity and momentum within the ruling party ahead of the next general elections. Among other dignitaries present were the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku; former Deputy Governor, Chief Pius Odubu; Senator Mathew Urhoghide; Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu; APC State Chairman, Emperor Jarret Tenebe; and Retired General...

Swift intervention by the Edo State Security Squad has averted what could have been a major bloodbath in Benin City, following violent clashes that erupted in Ogheghe and Ohoghobi communities, Ovia North East Local Government Area of the State. The crisis, which broke out on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, led to the death of one Chigozie Ifeonu, a young man reportedly killed while attempting to intervene in a fight between two rival groups.  The incident triggered an outrage among Ogheghe youths, who took to the streets in protest, vowing to avenge the death of their kinsman. Governor Monday Okpebholo, upon receiving reports of the unrest, swiftly deployed the Government House Security Team, led by the Chief Security Officer (CSO), Principal Security Officer (PSO), and members of the Edo Special Security Squad, to the affected areas to restore calm and prevent further loss of life. Simultaneously, the team intervened in Ohoghobi community, where aggrieved youths had barricaded the Beni...

  In just one year under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo, Edo State has achieved a major governance milestone, breaking into the top five best-performing states in Nigeria’s 2025 State of States Fiscal Performance Ranking. The report, which measures how well states manage their finances, ranked Edo fifth nationwide, alongside top performers like Anambra, Lagos, Kwara, and Abia.  This marks the first time Edo has made the top five, after maintaining consistent top-ten placements in previous years, a feat analysts say underscores the impact of Governor Okpebholo’s reforms focused on fiscal discipline, infrastructure renewal, and economic diversification. Governor Okpebholo, who assumed office in November, 2024, hailed the recognition as proof that his administration’s prudent management of resources is yielding tangible results. The Governor said: "This achievement is as a result of practical governance and it belongs to the people of Edo State. From the moment we ca...

The Federated Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council, has commended the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, for his visionary leadership and transformative impact on sports in the state. A delegation from the Chapel, led by Chairperson Mercy Onyenweli, visited the Chairman at his Benin City office on Monday. Onyenweli described Enabulele as “a man who has repositioned sports in Edo State,” highlighting the Commission’s expanded focus beyond football. “Previously, news from the Commission mostly revolved around Bendel Insurance FC. Today, under your proactive leadership, multiple sports activities have flourished, making Edo State proud,” she said. She also praised his efforts to develop grassroots sports, describing it as a major value addition. Onyenweli acknowledged the contribution of the Commission’s media team, particularly Media Aide Mr. Edoko Wilson Edoko, for amplifying the Commission’s work. “We fee...

   Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has been described as a working Governor  doing everything possible to make sure there are laudable projects across the state. The member House of Representatives for  Esan North East and Esan South East Federal Constituency, Hon Prince Odi Okojie who disclosed this recently during inspection of the on going legacy project he facilitated at Our Lourdes Girls' Grammar School, at Uromi, commended Governor Okpebholo for his leadership style. According to Hon Okojie, who also chairs the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream) Governor Okpebholo is doing everything possible to make sure there are laudable projects across the state. Hon Odi Okojie who also appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called on Edo people to embrace the All Progressives Congress, APC as the political party that can deliver the dividends of democracy to the people. "We at the Federal level have unanimously agreed that we will complement a...

  The founder and president of Voice of God Liberation Ministry, (VGLM), Pastor Peter Egbaelu, has urged President Bola Tinubu, to urgently consider the demands being made by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Pastor Egbaelu made the passionate call on Sunday October 26th, 2025, in Agbor, Delta State, during a chat with this reporter, in his office. The clergyman, a mechanical engineer by training, said the recent warning strike embarked upon by members of ASUU, was really unfortunate and regrettable. He was worried that the welfare of lecturers in Nigeria was nothing to write home about, even as facilities on most campuses are inadequate. According to the young energetic Pastor: "It is sad to note that the educational system in Nigeria is coroding alarmingly, as a result of lack of proper funding by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Our universities are not standing excellently with what is obtainable in civilized climes. The condition of Nigerian students are even...

Edo State Government has issued a one-week ultimatum to the former illegitimate deputy governor, Mr. Godwin Omobayo, to immediately return all government property and assets still in his possession. The Government has observed with dismay that several official items, including vehicles, documents, and other State-owned assets assigned to Mr. Omobayo, during his brief and illegitimate tenure, are yet to be surrendered to the appropriate authorities, despite multiple formal reminders. The Edo State Government reiterates that all assets acquired or utilized in the course of public service remain the property of the State and must be duly returned upon cessation of office. The continued retention of such property by any individual constitutes a clear breach of public trust and an unlawful possession of state assets. Accordingly, Mr. Omobayo is hereby given a period of seven (7) days from the date of this release to comply fully by returning all government property under his custody to the ...

  It is often said that history repeats itself first as tragedy and then as farce. In the curious case of Godwin Obaseki, former governor of Edo State, it seems to have arrived at both simultaneously, a tragic farce of self-inflicted political exile. Today, the man who once strutted like an emperor in Benin’s political courtyard is wandering the cobbled streets of Edinburgh, Scotland, seeking applause from imaginary supporters in the diaspora. The self-anointed reformer has become, quite poetically, the lonely fugitive of Edinburgh. For eight years, Obaseki reigned with the pomp of a technocrat and the temperament of a monarch. His admirers called him “the digital governor,” the one who would turn Edo into a modern marvel. But beneath the buzzwords and the billboards was a growing empire of arrogance, broken promises, and alienated allies. Now, the music has stopped, the curtain has fallen, and the man who thought himself indispensable has fled into a silence of his own making. A M...

  Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has revealed that no contractor in the State has paid any bribe to secure any projects under his watch since he assumed office last year.  The Governor, in the same vein, has threatened to sack non-performing and incompetent contractors handling different projects across the State.  Governor Okpebholo made the remarks when the leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Edo State paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Benin City, at the weekend.  The IPAC delegation was comprised of chairmen of 17 political parties in Edo State. Governor Okpebholo, flanked by top leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), thanked IPAC for its goodwill and pledged to deepen development across Edo. He assured that his administration remains firmly committed to transparency, service, and inclusive governance. “My mission is clear; to serve Edo people selflessly and to transform their lives through meaningful devel...

  Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has commended the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Nigeria Yongxing Steel Company Limited for renovating and upgrading Ujabholo Grammar School in Uwessan, Esan Central Local Government Area. The project, a China–Nigeria cooperation in education school reconstruction initiative, was instituted by the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos with the support of the Edo State Government.  It was jointly executed by Nigeria Yongxing Steel Company Limited, under the theme “Love Builds Dreams, Steel Builds Foundations; China and Nigeria Nurture the Future Together.” Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Governor Okpebholo expressed gratitude to the Chinese Government and the project partners for what he described as “a symbol of friendship and progress.” The Governor said: “Let me thank the Chinese Government and the Yongxing Steel Company for this innovation. When they came to tell me abou...

The Edo State Development and Building Control Agency has announced the commencement of a major clearance exercise targeting encroachments on road reserves and power line (TCN) Right of Way as a decisive move to enforce urban development regulations and ensure public safety in the state. According to a statement signed by the Managing Director, Imoisili Darlington Igabali, the agency will begin the clearance in this month of October, focusing on structures and obstructions previously served removal notices in several key areas across the state. The statement reads, "This is to inform the general public especially occupants of the Road reserves and TCN(power line) Right Of Ways in the under listed areas that were initially served removal notices that there will be total clearance in line with the mandate of the Edo State Development and Building Control Agency" "This exercise will be taking place from the month of October. All affected are to remove any valuables on or be...

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to maintain peace and ensure the security of vital oil infrastructure across the State, as he received the leadership of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Edo State Chapter, at the Government House, Benin City. Speaking during the courtesy visit by the newly-elected Chairman of IPMAN, Mr. Michael Ogiamen, alongside other executive members of the association, Governor Okpebholo commended the new leadership of IPMAN for resolving its internal crisis amicably and assured them of the State Government’s continued support in creating an enabling environment for petroleum marketers to operate smoothly. The Governor said: "Let me thank the IPMAN leadership and members. The chairman, vice chairman, and regional chairman, I thank all of you because I was not around when the issue came up, and I was called upon. I quickly called my people to make sure that law and or...

Between 1995 and 1999, l was Chairman, Committee for Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), Edo State, Nigeria, where l closely watched the revolutionary activities of Comrade Aremson. Comrade Aremson went on from that time, to distinguish himself as a colossal tool in the struggle to liberate the mass of our people from solitudes and shackles. I hereby join others, as we mourn with heavy hearts and unbroken spirits. We mourn a comrade who stood firm in the struggle for democracy, justice, and human rights — a believer in a freer, fairer Nigeria, and a world where dignity is not a privilege but a birthright. He was not a man of fear. He spoke when silence was safer. He stood when others chose comfort. He gave his time, his strength, and ultimately his life to the cause of the people. In a society that often punishes courage, he dared to hope — and to act upon that hope. His death, sudden and cruel, came upon the roads that have carried the weight of our nation’s hardship and hope. A hit and r...

  In a political and economic landscape where debt accumulation has become a norm, Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State is quietly scripting a new narrative; one anchored on prudence, discipline, and purposeful leadership. His administration is redefining what is possible when integrity meets strategy in governance. The Debt Management Office (DMO) recent release, shows that Edo State’s domestic debt has dropped significantly from ₦113 billion in December 2024 to ₦80 billion by June 2025, while foreign debt has reduced from $383 million to $337 million. This rare achievement did not come through new loans, bailouts, or federal interventions; it came through careful management, transparent spending, and strategic prioritization. In less than a year in office, Governor Okpebholo has demonstrated that progress does not depend on reckless borrowing, but on sound economic thinking and disciplined governance. The governor’s stewardship has shifted the state’s fiscal trajectory from dep...

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has revealed that he will not repeat the costly errors of the previous administration. This is even as he described the failure of the last regime in the State to swear in three judges duly cleared by the National Judicial Council (NJC) as a “slap on the face of the judiciary” and a grave injustice to the State’s justice system. Governor Okpebholo stated this when he received the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Benin Branch, and members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the upcoming NBA National Executive Committee (NEC) Meeting to be hosted in Edo State. The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthen the rule of law, deepen judicial independence, and build a robust partnership with the Bar for effective justice delivery. “We are in government to make a real difference, a visible difference that Edo people can feel,” Okpebholo said. “Our government will not repeat the errors of the past. Th...

  The recent attempt to romanticize the so-called “re-enactment of Obaseki’s education reforms” is not only misleading but also a desperate attempt to whitewash the failures of an administration that left behind a trail of disillusionment, deceit, and betrayal among Edo teachers. The ongoing narrative, deliberately sponsored and amplified by a few individuals nostalgic about the past government, seeks to misinform the public and distort the truth about the state of education in Edo. But facts, as always, are sacred and cannot be buried under political propaganda. It is important to set the records straight: the Obaseki-led government did not reform education - it weaponized it for political survival. What was branded as “innovation” was, in fact, a carefully packaged illusion that crushed the hopes of hundreds of young Edo teachers who were lured into the system without proper employment letters, pension benefits, or confirmation of their civil service status for more than three ye...

  Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua has said that there are facts and figures to counter all the lies of the Governor Godwin Obaseki led administration and he should stop going about like a fugitive. Prince Kassim Afegbua, a member of the Assets verification committee that probed the Obaseki administration who disclosed this in Benin City during a meeting with Senior Special Assistants SSA's and Special Assistants SA's to the Governor said the revelations from the committee report will make Edo people weep According to him," Edo people should not believe the lies of Obaseki and his social media urchins because Governor Okpebholo means well for the state and with the rate he is going, Edo people will soon know they have a leader with a good heart. That is why the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state are joining the All Progressives Congress, APC."The time of reckoning is now. Obaseki is running around from o...

There was a time, not too long ago, when the mention of Benin City stirred unease. Streets once alive with commerce and culture had become theatre of fear, haunted by the menace of cult clashes, street assassinations, and senseless violence.  The air was heavy with tension; lives were being wasted, families shattered, and businesses crippled by insecurity that defied all interventions. Today, that story is changing quietly but unmistakably. And at the heart of this transformation is Governor Monday Okpebholo, the man who has restored peace to Edo State, proving that once there is a will, there surely will be a way.  Okpebholo’s journey in restoring calm to a once fractured state has not been about grandstanding or political showmanship. It has been a deliberate, strategic, and deeply human effort to reclaim Edo from the grip of chaos. Through courage, consistency, and an uncommon sense of duty, he has redefined governance as a mission of protection; protection of lives, liveli...

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has pledged the State Government’s full support to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in its efforts to curb vandalism and regulate scrap and scavenging activities across the State. The Governor made the commitment on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the new NSCDC Commandant, Edo State Command, Commandant Akintayo Saidi Ayinla, at the Government House in Benin City, the State capital. Governor Okpebholo, during the visit, extended his condolences to the NSCDC over the passing of the late Commandant Gbenga Agun Joseph, describing the news of his death as a shock. Okpebholo said: "Let me welcome you to Government House this morning and, first of all, condole with you once again on the passing of our friend and brother, your predecessor. Having said that, I want to welcome you back to Edo. With the information I have before me, you are not new to the State. So, I can say that you are a son of the soil.”  Addressing the...

Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development will partner   with the Intellectual and Developmental Disability Cluster (IDD) because persons with disabilities are key stake holders in the society. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Joy Ihensekhien who represented the Commissioner during a courtesy visit by Executive and Members of IDD, in Benin City, said  the Ministry will lend a hand of fellowship to them. "As a Ministry, we ensure that persons with disabilities are taken care of because they are  key stakeholders in society," she noted. According to the Permanent Secretary, efforts should also be made by the Association to seek partnership and collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health to ensure that the children get access to affordable education and health care. The IDD State Coordinator in Edo State, Mr. Onome Otueroro said the Association for Intellectual and Developmental ...

The Executive Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has extolled the revered Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N'Oba N'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, on the occasion of his birthday. ​ The governor has also extended his best wishes to the Benin Monarch on his 9th year coronation anniversary.  In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, Governor Okpebholo celebrated the Monarch's firm commitment to the preservation of the rich cultural heritage of the Edo people and his impactful leadership since ascending the revered throne of his ancestors. ​ Governor Okpebholo described the Oba as a unique Monarch whose reign has been characterized by peace, development, and a push for the unity and progress of the Benin Kingdom and Edo State at large. ​“On behalf of the Government and the good people of Edo State, I convey my regards and prayers to our Father, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, on his birthday and 9th year ...

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has announced the reintroduction of Edo languages into the school curriculum across Edo State, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to preserving the State’s rich cultural heritage and promoting indigenous knowledge. The Governor made the disclosure during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Esan Okpa Initiative to Government House in Benin City. Led by its President, Rt. Hon. Mathew Egbadon, the delegation comprising technocrats, business leaders, and community stakeholders, commended Governor Okpebholo for the remarkable progress recorded in less than one year of his administration. Governor Okpebholo who expressed gratitude to the Esan people for their support, described them as “critical pillar” to guarantee his success in office. Governor Okpebholo also revealed that his administration had directed the Ministry of Education to intensify school rehabilitation efforts. “I have told my Commissioner for Education, we have to pr...

  Edo State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon Paul Ohonbamu has urged residents of the state to be vigilant and rally behind Governor Monday Okpebholo's  vision to rid the state of cultists, criminals, and other elements that threaten peace and security. The Commissioner who made the appeal in a statement in Benin City, noted that the safety and security of the state are paramount to attracting investments, promoting economic growth, and ensuring the well-being of the citizens.  "We cannot afford to let the activities of a few misguided individuals undermine our collective progress. The Governor has demonstrated his commitment to securing the State and creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.  "Governor Okpebholo has Strengthened  security agencies and improving their capacity to tackle security challenges and has promoted collaboration between security agencies and local communities to prevent and address security issues. "Th...