By Senator Monday Okpebholo, has demanded an apology from two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders over allegations that he attempted to bribe State Assembly members with N200 million to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The governor gave the PDP officials a five-day ultimatum to retract their claims.
The demand, issued through his legal representatives, Dr. Blessing Agbomhere and Taiwo Elizabeth Olorunfemi, was directed at PDP’s Edo State publicity secretary, Chris Osa Nehikhare, and party chieftain, Shedrach Udugbai. Okpebholo described the allegations as false and damaging to his reputation.
The accusations stem from a March 19, 2025, press release by Nehikhare, titled: “Edo PDP Condemns Okpebholo’s N200m Bribery Ploy to Buy Defection of Each Assembly Member.” Additionally, Udugbai allegedly repeated the claims during a live interview on ITV Benin on March 13, 2025.
Okpebholo’s legal team argued that the statements portrayed him as corrupt and unfit to govern. “The defamatory remarks suggest that our client is dishonest, engages in bribery, and mismanages Edo State’s resources,” the legal notice stated. The governor also noted that the allegations were widely circulated on social media, amplifying their impact.
He defended his integrity, stating that he had never been arrested, charged, or convicted for financial misconduct. “Before becoming governor, I served as a senator with an impeccable record, which earned me the APC’s nomination for the governorship,” Okpebholo said.
The governor insisted that the allegations were politically motivated and meant to discredit him. His legal team warned that failure to issue a public apology within five days would result in legal action.
