Edo State Governor Monday Ok Okpebholo has been accused of breaching procurement regulations after awarding contracts for two flyover bridges in Benin City to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Limited.
The first project, the Ramat Park flyover in Ikpoba Hill, was launched on 19 November 2024 with an 18‑month completion target. The second, a flyover at Adesuwa Junction on Sapele Road, was inaugurated on 15 October 2025, both to the same contractor.
In a statement released after its second general meeting in Benin on 2 May 2026, the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) alleged that the award processes lacked transparency and financial accountability. Citing the Freedom of Information Act, the coalition called on the Edo State government to disclose the contract amounts, the newspapers in which the tenders were advertised, the list of bidders other than CCECC, and the role of First Bank in the projects.
“While acknowledging the two flyovers as positive developments, we note that Governor Okpebholo continues to invite media personalities to inspect the works at public expense,” the communiqué read. It also warned that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would be notified to examine the contracts.
CRPP National Chairman Dr Samson Isibor said the public has a right to know how the contracts were awarded and urged the authorities to provide full details. He praised the resilience of Edo residents amid economic hardship, particularly in Ekpoma, the governor’s hometown, but critiqued the administration’s overall performance.
The coalition dismissed the governor’s claim that his administration is “the best Edo has ever had,” labeling it propaganda and stating that past administrations performed better. It also rejected the government’s assertion of tolerance toward opposition, citing incidents in which a commissioner allegedly dismissed the group as a “chop‑chop organisation” and issued threats reminiscent of historic propaganda tactics.
The controversy adds pressure on the Okpebholo administration ahead of upcoming fiscal reviews. Stakeholders and civil society groups are expected to monitor the EFCC’s response and any subsequent disclosures from the state government. The outcome may influence public confidence in Edo State’s procurement practices and the broader governance climate.
