Edo: CRPP accuses Okpebholo of contract irregularities, vows to petition EFCC
Edo State Governor Accused of Contract Violations Amid Flyover Construction
Eighteen months after the inauguration of a flyover bridge project at Ramat Park, Ikpoba Hill, in Benin City, the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has alleged that Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo awarded contracts in violation of procurement laws.
The flyover project, initiated on November 19, 2024, was contracted to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Limited, with a specified completion time of 18 months. On October 15, 2025, the governor launched a second flyover project at Adesuwa Junction on Sapele Road, also awarded to CCECC.
At a general meeting in Benin on May 2, 2026, CRPP officials expressed concerns regarding a lack of transparency and accountability in the contract awarding process. In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the coalition invoked the Freedom of Information Act, urging the Edo State Government to provide detailed information on the costs associated with the two flyover projects.
The communiqué, signed by Dr. Samson Isibor, National Chairman of CRPP, and distributed to the media on May 5, also called for disclosure of the newspapers where the contracts were advertised, information about other bidding companies, and the role of First Bank in the projects.
While acknowledging the potential benefits of the flyover bridges, the CRPP criticized Governor Okpebholo for inviting public figures to inspect the projects, alleging that such engagements come at the expense of taxpayers.
Isibor emphasized the necessity for transparency, stating that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would be informed about the projects, which have garnered significant public interest.
The coalition commended the resilience of Edo residents amid economic challenges and expressed sympathy for the local population, particularly in Ekpoma, where Okpebholo is from. However, they noted that the state administration’s efforts have fallen short of public expectations.
In their assessment, the CRPP dismissed Okpebholo’s claims of superior governance, asserting that he is the least-performing governor in Edo’s history. The coalition contended that former Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration had outperformed Okpebholo’s, despite not having a direct association with Obaseki’s tenure.
The CRPP also rebutted allegations that the Okpebholo administration tolerates opposition, citing instances of intimidation and derogatory remarks made against them by government officials.
