Senator Monday Okpebholo and Dennis Idahosa have been sworn in as governor and deputy governor of Edo State respectively.
Edo Chief Justice Daniel Okungbowa administered the oath to the number one and two citizens of the state on Tuesday at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
They both swore to uphold the constitution and work within its dictate as well as see to the well-being of the people of the state.
This comes comes two months after the duo clinched the ticket to the Dennis Osadebay House.
In the election, Okpebholo garnered 291,667 votes, surpassing Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who secured 247,274 votes. Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) trailed behind with 22,763 votes.
Prominent figures who attended the inauguration included Vice President Kashim Shettima, APC national chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, reinstated deputy governor Philip Shaibu and other governors affiliated with the APC.
Okpebholo takes over from Godwin Obaseki who was governor for two terms.
Meanwhile, the new Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has announced the formation of a high-powered committee to investigate the previous administration of Godwin Obaseki, particularly over its failure to inaugurate 14 elected lawmakers into the 7th Edo State House of Assembly.
Monday Okpebholo disclosed the move during his inaugural speech on Tuesday, shortly after taking office. Okpebholo emphasized that the delay in seating the lawmakers-elect had hindered the functioning of the assembly, which he vowed to address promptly to ensure the smooth operation of the state legislature.
In addition to this, Governor Okpebholo also directed the State Chief Judge to initiate an investigation into the former administration’s failure to inaugurate duly cleared judges by the National Judicial Council (NJC) last year.
He called for swift action, underscoring the importance of upholding judicial integrity and ensuring the prompt filling of judicial vacancies.
“The people of Edo State deserve transparent governance, and we will ensure that all necessary actions are taken to correct any wrongdoings,” Okpebholo said during the speech, signaling his administration’s commitment to accountability and reform.
The announcement has already sparked considerable interest and speculation, with political observers keenly awaiting the outcome of the probes.
Okpebholo’s government has pledged to prioritize good governance and judicial reforms as part of its broader efforts to improve the state’s political and legal systems.