In response to what the governor characterized as defamatory remarks made by Chris Osa Nehikhare, Edo State Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and a party chieftain, Mr. Shedrach Udugbai, the governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has given Nehikhare five days to immediately offer an unconditional apology to him (Okpebholo).
While Nehikhare was charged with making unfounded and defamatory claims against the Governor in a press release on March 19, 2025, with the title,; “EDO PDP CONDEMNS OKPEBHOLO’S N200M BRIBERY PLOY TO BUY DEFECTION OF EACH ASSEMBLY MEMBER…RECKLESS MISAPPROPRIATION OF STATE RESOURCES” and “SENATOR MONDAY OKPEBHOLO HAS SUMMONED ALL COUNCILLORS FROM THE 18 LOCAL COUNCILS OF EDO STATE, IN A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO WOO THEM WITH N2M EACH TO DECAMP TO THE ALL-PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC).”
During his appearance on “This Morning on ITV,” a show broadcast on Benin-based independent television (ITV) on March 13, 2025, Udugbai allegedly defamed the governor by accusing Governor Okpebholo of bribing three PDP members in the state House of Assembly with two hundred million naira each to defect to the All Progressives Congress.
According to a pre-action notice that our correspondent saw and that was signed by the governor’s attorneys, Dr. Blessing Agbomhere Esq. and Taiwo Elizabeth Olorunfemi Esq. of Blessing Agbomhere and Partners, the defamatory remarks might be interpreted as meaning that; “the governor is a dishonorable man who engages in bribery and corruption and deals callously with the common wealth of Edo state; that Our Client is a “dishonest man who can only have things done through bribery and corrupt practices”; and that our client is a “dishonest person incapable of managing the affairs of Edo State and/or holding any public office.”
Blessing Agbomhere and Partners lamented that the wide broadcast of the said press release and interview including on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, significantly amplified the reach and impact of the defamatory comments, resulting in consequential harm to the Governor.
The governor’s legal team asserted unequivocally that the accusations are completely untrue and a deliberate attempt to harm the governor’s hard-earned reputation. They said that all well-meaning Edo natives and Nigerians in general have regarded Governor Okpebholo as one of the few state governors who is doing exceptionally well and managing the state funds prudently.
They also added that before taking office, the governor was a distinguished senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where he carried out his legislative duties flawlessly and without any flaws. As a result, the APC nominated him for the governorship of Edo State, a position he currently holds.
“Our client has not been arrested, charged or convicted for financial impropriety or any offense whatsoever in Nigeria or elsewhere; and Our Client has never and will never engage in bribery or any other financial impropriety. It is hard to understand why our client’s name should feature in what seemed to be your attempt to address an issue regarding the decamping of lawmakers from your own political party due to their dissatisfaction with how the affairs of your party are being run. The irresistible conclusion to be drawn is that, your statements were intended to expose our client to public ridicule and denigrate his well-preserved reputation in the eyes of members of the society generally.” the pre-action notice read in parts.
Through his attorneys, Governor Okpebholo bemoaned the large number of calls he has received from friends, political associates, and other well-meaning Nigerians both locally and abroad asking about the veracity of the accusations since the release of the aforementioned defamatory statement. He added that he was neither asked for nor aware of the lawmakers’ defection.
As a remedy, the Blessing Agbomhere and Partners legal team advised the PDP chieftains to either record and publish a retraction of the defamatory remarks made about the governor on the same platform as the statements and on all social media platforms, or they risk legal action.
They also advised the governor to issue an apology letter that is published in two dailies that are widely read in Edo State and throughout Nigeria within five days of receiving the notice.
