Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, whose term ends tomorrow, has been confirmed to be in Lagos, countering rumours that he fled Nigeria.
Speculation had grown following claims by Governor-elect Senator Monday Okpebholo, who suggested that Obaseki might have left the country through a land border.
The incoming governor alleged that the outgoing governor had secretly exited the country to avoid legal scrutiny. Obaseki has served as Governor since 2016, first elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) before later joining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Governor-elect Okpebholo, who will take office on Tuesday, has repeatedly suggested that Obaseki’s departure from office could make him vulnerable to investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a statement on Sunday, Okpebholo, through his media aide Godspower Inegbe, claimed that Obaseki had “disappeared” from Edo State Government House and chased out staff as of Friday.
According to Okpebholo, Obaseki left without using the airport, instead opting for a bus to leave quietly. Okpebholo stated, “As of Friday, 8th of November, the whereabouts of Obaseki are unknown. He has chased everyone out of Edo State Government House. He has abandoned governance in the State, and he is on the run.
“He has escaped through the road out of Benin. He did not pass through the airport. If he is as popular as he claims, why did he not use the airport to escape? Instead, he hired a bus and disguised while escaping from Edo State.
“Obaseki is trying to push out these narratives in order to distract the public. His antics will not work. We know his plans, and we will continue to expose his shenanigans to Edo people,” the statement read.
Despite these claims, sources confirmed that Obaseki was indeed in Lagos as of Sunday evening.
“Obaseki did not flee Nigeria; it is a lie. There was nothing like that. He is in Lagos right now as I speak so there is no truth to the claim made by the governor-elect,” one of the sources said.
