Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has threatened to arrest a contractor allegedly responsible for abandoning a section of the Benin-Abraka Road despite receiving payment under the previous administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Okpebholo issued the warning while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode Local Government Areas during his ongoing political tour to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The governor said he had resolved to address the deplorable condition of the road but was constrained by contractual agreements entered into before he assumed office.
According to him, the road project was awarded to two contractors, with one making progress and reportedly achieving about 75 per cent completion, while the other had allegedly abandoned its assigned section.
He accused the second contractor, whom he described as a friend of Obaseki, of abandoning the project despite receiving payment from the previous administration.
“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,” Okpebholo said.
The governor added that the contractor’s alleged failure to execute the project had become a major obstacle to addressing the hardship faced by motorists plying the busy route.
“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,” he said.
Explaining why he had decided to speak publicly on the matter, Okpebholo said complaints he received during the visit compelled him to address the controversy surrounding the project.
“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 declared.
The governor’s visit also took him to Iguomo-Nisi in Uhunmwode Local Government Area, where he met APC members and mobilised support for the party’s candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
Okpebholo was accompanied by APC leaders and senior government officials during the tour.
The Edo APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, commended party members for their turnout and support for the governor, while thanking voters for backing the party during the last local government elections.
Tenebe urged party faithful to sustain their support for Okpebholo and work towards delivering the 2.5 million votes the APC in Edo State has pledged to President Bola Tinubu in the January 2027 elections.
