The Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the State Governor Monday Okpebholo for staging fake defection of Local Government chairmen to mislead President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC leadership about his political influence in the State.
In a press release issued by the Publicity Secretary of the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Committee, Chris Osa Nehikhare, the party accused Okpebholo of orchestrating a charade to create the illusion of political strength.
According to Nehikhare, Okpebholo has “completely lost his grip on the political reins in Edo State” and is now relying on “subterfuge and content creation” to misrepresent his standing.
The controversy stems from a recent statement by Fred Itua, Okpebholo’s Chief Press Secretary, which claimed that several PDP local government council chairmen had defected to the APC. The PDP has vehemently denied these claims, asserting that all duly elected PDP chairmen remain loyal to the party.
“Contrary to the misleading claims made by Fred Itua, no single chairman of the PDP has decamped. All duly elected local government council chairmen under the PDP in Edo State are fully intact,” Nehikhare stated.
He alleged that the individuals presented as ‘chairmen’ in Itua’s statement were actually “illegal appointees” handpicked by Okpebholo in a desperate bid to project false political gains.
The PDP also dismissed a recent gathering at the Edo State Government House festival hall as nothing more than “content creation for the viewing pleasure of Mr. President and APC leadership in Abuja.”
The PDP described the event held at the Government House as a staged performance aimed at misleading the APC hierarchy about Okpebholo’s dwindling influence in the state.
The PDP urged President Tinubu and the APC leadership to verify the facts before accepting Okpebholo’s claims at face value.
“Whoever Okpebholo is trying to deceive or impress should be wary, as these are complete falsehoods,” Nehikhare warned.
He added, “There have been no political gains for Okpebholo and his party in Edo State.”