Benin City – Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, demanding the payment of ₦25 billion in damages and the publication of a public apology over alleged defamatory statements.
The demand was contained in a letter written by the governor’s lawyer, R.I.D. Okezie, Esq., accusing Aziegbemi of making false and damaging claims against the governor in a press release dated January 7, 2025.
According to the letter, the press statement allegedly portrayed Governor Okpebholo as unintelligent, dishonest, lawless, and accused him of deploying thugs and non-state actors to perform official government duties. The lawyer argued that these claims were not only false but also injurious to the governor’s personal reputation and the dignity of the office he occupies.
The letter, dated December 22, 2025, stated that the publication was widely circulated across national newspapers and online media platforms, thereby causing significant reputational harm to the governor within and outside Edo State.
“Our client’s attention has recently been drawn to a press release by you as the Factional Chairman of Edo State PDP, Caretaker Committee on the 7th January, 2025, which has been published by several newspapers in Nigeria and online news organisations,” the letter read.
It further stated that Aziegbemi “repeatedly disparaged the reputation and character of our client and the high office he occupies in this State.”
The letter added that the alleged defamatory words ridiculed the image Governor Okpebholo has “meticulously built over the years as a responsible politician,” dating back to his tenure as a senator in the National Assembly.
As part of the demands, the governor is seeking:
The payment of ₦25 billion as damages for defamation; and
A written public apology to be published in at least three national newspapers, including Vanguard and The Guardian.
The letter warned that failure to meet the demands within seven days of receipt would leave the governor with no option but to seek legal redress in a competent Nigerian court.
The demand letter is titled, “Demand for damages and apologies for defamation of the character of the Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo.”
As of the time of filing this report, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi and the Edo State PDP had not issued an official response to the governor’s demands.
