The Edo State Government has distanced itself from alleged threats by Emmanuel Eghogho, popularly known as Egogo, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Monday Okpebholo, against the participation of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2027 general elections.
DAILY POST reports that Governor Monday Okpebholo’s aide, in a viral video on several social media platforms, told the Commissioner of Police in the state, Monday Agbonika, that opposition parties, particularly the ADC, would not be allowed to campaign for the elections in the state.
The governor’s aide stated that members of the opposition, including Peter Obi, would be arrested and handed over to the commissioner for onward transfer to Abuja if they dared to carry out electioneering activities in the state.
Reacting, the state government on Monday, April 27, 2026, distanced itself and Governor Monday Okpebholo from the utterances.
Prince Kassim Afegbua, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, who spoke at a press briefing in Benin City, noted that Governor Okpebholo does not tolerate gangsterism, political hooliganism, or any attempt to subdue the opposition by using “very foul language by way of subtle threats and otherwise.”
“We want to disown that statement as not the position of government, as the voice of an individual who is also amenable to existing laws of the land.
“I think it’s the media that makes people like Egogo important. When you ignore and face the larger issue, the bigger issue, people will not take such a young man seriously.
“But I’m just telling you that this is not a government position, and they are not representing the views of the government.
“And so, we frown totally against such kind of incendiary statements as credited to a guy popularly called Egogo. It is not our article of trade. It is not our thematic focus as a government.
“We try as much as possible to promote unity of purpose, a spirit of camaraderie among all Edo citizens and indigenes. If you have any cause to do business in Edo State, we want you to be happy when you come, when you see what we are doing. That’s why we have invested so much in security,” he said.
He urged law enforcement agencies to rise to the occasion by ensuring that such persons are made to face the full wrath of the law for their actions.
“So, the law enforcement agents, if they feel troubled by what he said, can handle him their own way.
“It is the responsibility of the law enforcement agencies to keep people in check within the rank and file of society.
“We are expecting that the DSS, the police, and civil defence will key into our security architecture to deepen the conversation around security across the state,” he added.
He, however, stated that the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration welcomes opposition, robust engagement, constructive engagement, and collective bargaining.
He noted that if Edo is better, it is better for the good, the bad, and the ugly, adding that in a democracy, opposition helps the ruling party to think better.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Command has disassociated the Commissioner of Police from the remarks, noting that “at no point did the Commissioner of Police endorse, adopt, or align himself with the remarks.”
A statement by ASP Eno Ikoedem, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, said the Command is diligently interrogating the remarks for any security implications beyond those of comedy and showmanship.
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