Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has threatened to arrest the contractor handling a section of the Benin-Abraka Road over the alleged abandonment of the project despite receiving payment from the previous administration.
The Punch reported that Okpebholo made the threat on Friday while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress in Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode Local Government Areas as part of his ongoing tour of the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Patrick Ebojele, the governor said he had been reluctant to comment on the road project but was forced to speak after hearing complaints about the condition of the road during his visit.
He explained that the road project was awarded to two contractors, adding that while one contractor had continued work and achieved about 75 per cent completion, the other had abandoned its portion.
“Following the agreement that was signed by Obaseki’s administration, that road construction project was paid for before I became governor. Despite the payment by the previous administration, the contractor still abandoned the road, allowing motorists to suffer untold hardship passing through the road.
“That road was given to two contractors. One of them is working and is doing his job and has gotten up to 75 per cent completion, while the other, who is a friend to Obaseki, has abandoned his section and has become the problem causing hardship on the road.”
The governor said he had previously chosen not to publicly discuss the project, but the complaints he received during the visit prompted him to address the issue.
“Those in the diaspora don’t know what is happening and for me as the governor, I never wanted to speak on the issue of this Benin-Abraka Road, but what I heard today has prompted me to speak on the issue. I am going to arrest that contractor,” he said.
Okpebholo, accompanied by APC leaders and senior government officials, also visited Iguomo-Nisi in Uhunmwode Local Government Area, where he met party members and sought support for APC candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Edo APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, commended party members for their turnout and urged them to continue supporting the governor and the party.
Tenebe also thanked voters for their support during the last local government elections and called on party members to work towards delivering the 2.5 million votes the APC in Edo has promised President Bola Tinubu in the January 2027 elections.
