By Ehichioya Ezomon
Has Edo State chapter of the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) dragged Governor Monday Okpebholo before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to investigate the funds for the construction of the Ramat Park Flyover Bridge in Aduwawa, Ikpoba Hill, and Adesuwa Junction Flyover Bridge on Sapele Road, both in Benin City, the capital city?
It’s the second time (or more) in four months that the CRPP has threatened Okpebholo with the law in the discharge of his duties as the Chief Executive of the state. On January 27, 2026, the CRPP, through its regional president, Dr. Samson Isibor, declared in a statement in Benin City that: “We are ready to take him (Okpebholo) to court, if he goes ahead to implement the so-called Edo Airline.”
This was in response to the Okpebholo proposal to establish an airline for the state, with the CRPP arguing that rather than spend huge amounts on a venture “that has no relevance to average Edo people” but the elite, the governor should channel the resources to areas of immediate attention and intervention.
Members of the public have no issues with CRPP’s suggestion on the airline project, but its ultimatum to Okpebholo to withdraw the proposal or face legal action, a similar route it’s taken on the flyover bridges in Benin City – the first-ever of such projects by the state government since the creation of Edo in 1991.
Choosing attack over constructive engagement with the government, the CRPP’s threat to invite the EFCC to probe the cost of funding of the two flyover bridges was contained in a statement by Isibor, after the 2nd General Meeting of the coalition on May 2, 2026, the Concord Online News reported on May 5, 2026.
Asking to know the “identity of the Chinese firm that is awarded the project and the timeline for the completion of the bridge,” the CRPP queried: “What is the role of First Bank in the two projects? When were they advertised for bidding and in which national newspapers? We want the names of the Chinese firm(s) that were awarded the contracts to be published and which other firms bidded (sic) for the construction.”
The CRPP relied on the Freedom of Information Act 2011, which derives its authority and backing from the fundamental right to freedom of expression and the press, enshrined in Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and said it’s putting the Okpebholo government on notice, that it shall invite the EFCC to “beam its searchlights on these projects.”
Even as it commended the Okpebholo administration “for doing its best,” the CRPP expressed its “firm belief” that, “the government has not met the expectations of the masses,” and labeled Okpebholo as “the least performing governor Edo has ever produced since its creation” – in reference to Okpebholo’s claim that he’s performed more than his predecessors in office.
The governor should be happy that besides the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA) mandatorily empowered to oversight the government – but maybe seen by the public as not sufficiently acting accordingly – the CRPP’s taken up the challenge to monitor his government’s projects across the state. Whether the oversight is done in good faith is a different issue altogether!
Okpebholo should also appreciate the CRPP’s avowal to invite the EFCC to investigate funds spent on the projects, and on ancillary matters thereto. This will put him on his toes, and ensure he keeps fidelity with transparency and accountability: from the invitation for tenders to pre-selection, selection, award of contract(s), mobilisation of contractor(s), execution, monitoring, timeline for completion and hand over of the project(s) for verification and commissioning.
It’ll also enable Okpebholo to keep his books in order, and in good stead for any eventuality, such as being summoned by the EFCC or any other anti-graft agencies to answer for his stewardship as Governor of ‘The Heart Beat of the Nation’. To be forewarned is to be forearmed!
That being said, the public should scrutinise the motive(s) of the Edo chapter of the CRPP – a pressure group formed by registered parties in various states, “to take unified stances on elections and political matters” – to unduly interfere in the running of the government, and threaten Governor Okpebholo under the guise of wanting him to work for the people’s interest.
As stated in my February 16, 2026, copy on ‘Edo Airline: Okpebholo and CRPP’s unhelpful legal threat,’ the CRPP, “as a body unknown to law – not registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a political party, and not a registered entity with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) that can sue and be sued – is a voluntary organisation for registered parties with free entry and free exit!”
“It’s, thus, not in the remit of the CRPP to dabble in the governance of Edo State by blackmail and threats to sue Okpebholo should he refuse to carry out the coalition’s “order” to halt the airline. If it really wants the governor to have a change of mind, its intervention should be to suggest, advise or appeal to him to commit the funds to other areas.”
This stand is true for the instant matter of CRPP’s threat to drag Okpebholo before the EFCC over construction of the Ramat Park and Adesuwa Junction flyover bridges in Benin City. By its bellicose utterances and actions, the CRPP can’t claim to truly represent the interests of all political parties in Edo State.
Imagine a body that claims to represent registered parties, and have their back when they’re contrained, turning round to be the tormentor-in-chief of the governor and his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that’s a member of the coalition in Edo State!
Through its state chairman, Isibor, the CRPP turns adversarial when to offer advice to the governor and the government! When to engage, it goes public! When to commend, it criticises and condemns! When to serve as a voice of moderation, the incites and stokes the embers of hatred and disunity!
What’s the CRPP’s concern with Okpebholo claiming that he’s the “best Governor” ever to rule Edo State? Doesn’t he have a right to praise himself with the kind of programmes and projects (the CRPP admits) he’s executing across Edo in one and half years in office? Since when has self-appraisal and praise become a crime in Edo State?
The saying is, “A lizard that jumps down from the iroko tree praises itself if no other does.” Why won’t Okpebholo sing his own praises if all the CRPP does is to criticise and condemn him even when it sees his administration’s projects in progress, such as the Ramat Park and Adesuwa Junction flyover bridges in Benin City?
See the coalition’s response to the Okpebholo claim: “CRPP deliberated on claims by Okpebholo that he is the best governor Edo has ever had and has performed better than previous governments. We call that a propaganda that is far from the truth, and cannot be substantiated. In fact, he is the least performing governor Edo has ever produced since its creation.
“While not serving as mouth piece for the government of former Governor Godwin Obaseki, as we never met him for once throughout his eight years in office, we, however, make bold to say that he performed much better than Okpebholo’s administration.”
Without specifying the timeframe, Okpebholo may’ve compared the performance in his first 18 months in office, to the achievements of past Edo governors in their first 18 months, and rated himself higher. That’s fair enough! It’s illogical for the CRPP to compare Okpebholo’s 18 months’ performance to Obaseki’s in 96 months (eight years – 2016-2024) in office!
Talking about not being “Obaseki’s mouthpiece,” why didn’t the CRPP mention former Governor and Sen. Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North), who many acknowledge performed far better than Obaseki, and who’s praised Okpebholo for embarking on projects he (and past Edo governors) couldn’t tackle during his tenure (2008-2016)?
What’s the CRPP’s problem with Okpebholo boasting to secure 2.5m votes for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027? Does the coalition want the governor to project a lower figure than what Tinubu received in Edo State in the 2023 poll? Some governors have projected higher figures for Tinubu, and they haven’t been crucified by the CRPP chapters in those states. Or does the CRPP exist only in Edo?
Since what daily comes out from the CRPP in the Edo chapter is propagation of opposition rhetoric, it’s pertinent to ask: Whose interest is it representing, projecting, promoting and protecting, as a supposed umbrella body for all registered parties in the state?
Needless to continue to hide behind one finger! The CRPP should be bold enough to declare its stand – which Edo people are aware of – and rename itself as the “Coalition of Opposition Political Parties (COPP),” so it can function, without encumbrances, as the actual mouthpiece of the opposition in Edo State.
LAST LINE: Closing this copy, I came about a report by Concord Online News of Friday, May 29, 2026, entitled, “CRPP berates Edo government over role of private security firm at Children’s Day mayhem,” in which the coalition accused Governor Okpebholo of “authorising the use of tear gas and pepper spray” to disperse unruly students at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City during the May 27 Children’s Day commemoration.
Like seriously, as the Gen Zs would say? That the governor, who wasn’t at the ceremony, but represented by Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa, directed that innocent students, mainly female students, be tear-gassed and pepper-sprayed at such a memorable occasion?
Little wonder in the statement by Dr Isibor, the CRPP – which should have evidence to back up this damaging allegation – said the reported “action has exposed the government that prides itself as children and youth-friendly as mere smoke screen.”
As indicated in viral videos of the scene, the reported official order to private security operatives to deploy chemical substances to control the crowd, resulted in a stampede, and the trampling of scores of female students trying to escape the “male student cultists,” who invaded the stadium in attempts to force themselves on the female students.
There’s nothing wrong in deploying private security personnel to complement regular security operatives to man such a huge crowd of students, teachers, government officials, parents and members of the public in a 20,000-25,000 capacity facility as the famous stadium.
What should be wrong is if the standard security operatives left control of the agitated crowd to the private security personnel, and allegedly ordered them to deploy teargas and pepper spray to control the situation that may be above their capacity to handle!
Despite its use of language, and its seemingly-conclusive allegation of complicity by Okpebholo and his government in the tragic incident, the CRPP outrage can’t be faulted over the desecration of the Children’s Day celebrations by alleged male student cultists, which shows the decay of values in the society we live today.
Yet, nowhere in the report is the CRPP mentioned to’ve employed the same outrage to condemn the dardastly action of the “male student cultists,” but it descended on Okpebholo – who’s taken, head-on, cultists and kidnappers since he assumed office in November 2024 – for failing to stamp out cultism in Edo State.
“The invasion of the stadium by the students also belied Governor Okpebholo’s claim to have totally obliterated cultism in the state. It is now obvious that he has much work to do on security in the state as cultism and other criminal activities still fester,” the CRPP said.
• Mr Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria. Can be reached on X, Threads, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp @EhichioyaEzomon. Tel: 08033078357
