Okpebholo’s transition committee adjourns indefinitely over ‘absence of vital documents’

Patrick Ikhariale, secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) transition committee in Edo, says the joint team has adjourned indefinitely due to the alleged failure of the outgoing administration to provide vital documents.

Last week, the state government asked Monday Okpebholo, Edo governor-elect, to set up a team for a smooth transition.

In a letter dated October 10 and addressed to Okpebholo and APC, Joseph Eboigbe, secretary to the Edo state government, said October 14 was the proposed date for the inaugural meeting of both teams.

Addressing journalists in Benin City on Tuesday, Ikhariale said both parties would meet once the required documents and information are available.

According to him, the APC transition committee has held several discussions with the outgoing governor’s team, but key documents remain unavailable.

“Unfortunately, the nature of materials that they have supplied to us do not address any of the issues on the table,” Ikhariale said.

“We have interfaced with the relevant officers of the government including the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Mr. Joseph Eboigbe, and they agreed with us to do exactly what we asked for because what they had supplied us at best has not addressed the issue substantially in any form, and we had expected that by this morning that will be done.

“We also had a meaningful and strong discussion. We need a set of documents that will address the issues we have raised, and that is where we are.

“We also agreed that today (Tuesday) he (Eboigbe) has to discuss with His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki, and get back to us.

“And in any case, the information or documents we’re asking for are in line with global best practices. We are not asking for anything out of the ordinary. So it is on record that we have done the needful.

“As we speak, a letter has been sent to them and we do hope that what we have discussed and agreed on as at yesterday would be executed for us to progress and have the joint meetings we are supposed to have and that is the position.

“We are waiting for him to reach out to the governor like he said to know the next line of action to take as to how and when they are giving us the needed documents.

“And we have also as a committee said whatever document or information they want to give to us, give it to us at least within 24 hours before the meeting time to enable us look through it, peruse and have an informed position to discuss so that we don’t go there and be discussing in abstract or discussing things that are not relevant to the subject matter of the day.

“So these I believe we have agreed on, by both sides.

“Hopefully, if today, or tomorrow we get the required information and documents, we will reconvene and do the needful.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Okpebholo winner of the September 21 Edo governorship election.

The governor-elect has alleged looting of government property ahead of his inauguration on November 12. The Obaseki administration has denied the allegations.