Edo APC Denies PDP’s Claim of N3.51bn Travel Spending, Dismisses Allegation as Politically Motivated

The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected what it described as a politically motivated claim by the staff Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration squandered N3.51 billion on travel expenses within the first six months of 2025.

The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by PDP Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, who accused the state government of prioritising trips over economic growth.

Nehikhare cited the National Bureau of Statistics’ Capital Importation Report, claiming that despite the alleged huge expenditure on travels, the Okpebholo-led government had failed to attract a single kobo in foreign investment to Edo State.

He described the purported spending as “an insult” to the people of Edo, given the state’s ongoing struggles with dilapidated infrastructure, inadequate healthcare facilities, decaying schools, irregular salary payments, and erratic electricity supply.

“Other states are opening their doors to capital, Edo’s leaders are opening their wallets for endless trips,” Nehikhare said.

Responding on Monday, Edo APC Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, dismissed the allegation as “roguish and dishonest,” insisting that the current administration had maintained strict financial discipline since assuming office on November 12, 2024.

Tenebe argued that the claim was baseless, noting that Governor Okpebholo had not embarked on any foreign trip since taking over from the PDP-led government.

“Accusing the present administration of wasting N3.51bn on imaginable ‘travels,’ when the governor has not embarked on any foreign trip since November 12, 2024, shows that the PDP renegades are obviously suffering from hallucination caused by post-election defeat syndrome,” he said.

The APC chairman further alleged that the PDP’s statement was an attempt to distract Edo people from what he called “the unprecedented raid” on state resources by former governor Godwin Obaseki and his associates, likening them to “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.”

Tenebe urged residents to disregard what he described as fabrications from “treasury looters and their fugitive leader” and assured that the Okpebholo administration remained committed to delivering sustainable development across all 18 local government areas.

According to him, the government’s plans were in line with global best practices and would not involve “fictitious globe-trotting” to divert public funds.

PUNCH