Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Dr Anthony Aziegbemi, demanding the payment of ₦25 billion as damages over alleged defamatory statements.
The demand was conveyed in a letter dated December 22, 2025, written by the governor’s legal counsel, Ray Okezie, and addressed to Aziegbemi.
According to the letter, the PDP chairman was accused of making statements that allegedly portrayed Governor Okpebholo as unintelligent, dishonest and lawless in a press release issued on December 7, 2025.
The governor also alleged that Aziegbemi falsely accused him of deploying thugs and non-state actors to perform official duties, claims he described as malicious and damaging to his reputation.
In addition to the ₦25 billion compensation, the governor demanded that Aziegbemi publish a public retraction and apology in three national newspapers within seven days.
The publications are to include The Guardian and Vanguard newspapers.
The letter warned that failure to meet the stated demands within the stipulated period would leave the governor with no option but to institute legal proceedings in a competent Nigerian court.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official response from the Edo PDP chairman regarding the allegations or the demands.
