Former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has rejected statements by current Governor Monday Okpebholo suggesting that he would be unwelcome in Benin, the state capital.
Okpebholo had recently claimed that Obaseki is unpopular in Edo and would face resistance if he attempted to campaign for any candidate other than President Bola Tinubu.
In a bold statement over the weekend, Okpebholo said, “Everybody is for Asiwaju, who is Obaseki? Let him come here now. He cannot come. His poor record will prevent him from going to Edo. Obaseki dares not come here. If Asiwaju does not win his re-election, I will resign as governor.”
Responding in a viral video on Monday, Obaseki described Okpebholo as a “villager from Oredo” and asserted that no one has the authority to bar him from entering the state.
He said, “When you start with violence, you will reap violence. For one year since I left office, I have not said a word on his government. Suddenly, he started attacking my personality and threatening me. This week, he held a disgraceful press conference threatening me. When I am ready to go, we will all come. This is an insult.”
The rivalry between the two leaders is not new. Earlier in 2025, the Edo State PDP criticized Okpebholo for taking credit for projects such as the Temboga Road construction, which were initiated and completed during Obaseki’s tenure.
PDP Caretaker Committee Publicity Secretary Chris Nehikhare described the governor’s claims as “disingenuous and misleading”, urging Okpebholo to stop “rewriting history” and focus on projects that reflect his administration’s vision for Edo State.
