Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has given a five-day ultimatum to Chris Nehikhare, the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, and a party stalwart, Shedrach Udugbai, requesting a public apology over alleged defamatory statements made against him.
The governor, through his legal team, accused the two PDP members of making false claims aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
Nehikhare was alleged to have made unsubstantiated accusations in a press release dated March 10, 2025, titled: “Edo PDP Condemns Okpebholo’s N200m Bribery Ploy to Buy Defection of Each Assembly Member.” The statement also accused the governor of “reckless mismanagement of state resources” and claimed that he attempted to lure councillors from all 18 local government areas of the state to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) with a ₦2 million inducement.
Similarly, Udugbai was accused of making defamatory statements during an interview on This Morning on ITV, aired by Benin-based Independent Television (ITV) on March 13, 2025.
During the program, he alleged that Governor Okpebholo bribed three PDP lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly with ₦200 million each to defect to the APC.
A pre-action notice, issued by the governor’s legal representatives, Dr. Blessing Agbomhere and Taiwo Elizabeth Olorunfemi, argued that these allegations portrayed Governor Okpebholo as a corrupt individual who engages in bribery and misappropriation of public funds.
The legal team stated that the claims were damaging and could create the false impression that the governor is unfit to lead Edo State or hold public office.
The notice also raised concerns about the widespread circulation of these claims on digital platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, which amplified their impact and caused significant reputational harm.
Governor Okpebholo’s lawyers insisted that the allegations were entirely false and intended to undermine his credibility.
They emphasized that the governor has been widely recognized for his effective management of state affairs and that he had previously served as a senator with an unblemished record, which led to his nomination as the APC’s governorship candidate.
The legal team further clarified that the governor has never been arrested, charged, or convicted of any financial wrongdoing in Nigeria or abroad.
“It is unclear why our client’s name was dragged into discussions regarding the defection of lawmakers from your party due to internal dissatisfaction,” the legal notice stated.
It further alleged that the statements were aimed at subjecting the governor to public humiliation and damaging his hard-earned reputation.
Governor Okpebholo has demanded a formal apology from Nehikhare and Udugbai within five days, warning that failure to comply may result in legal action.