Grassroots Empowerment or Vote-Buying? Okpebholo Weaponizes Taxpayer Funds With 4,800 ‘Special’ Appointments

BENIN CITY — In a strategic move to decentralise governance, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has approved the appointment of 4,800 Special Assistants across the state.

The announcement was made during the 2026 All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership meeting held at the Government House in Benin City.

The event hosted party delegates from all 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Edo State.

Equal Representation Across Wards

The appointments strictly follow a grassroots distribution model. Total appointees are 4,800 Special Assistants with 25 individuals selected from each of the state’s 192 wards.

Edo State APC Chairman Jarrett Tenebe, officially declared the appointments during the meeting, sparking widespread celebration among party leaders and stakeholders in attendance.

Bridging the Gap in Governance

According to Governor Okpebholo, the mass appointment aims to deepen his administration’s presence and enhance grassroots engagement.

The newly appointed Special Assistants primary mandate, according to party officials, will be to bridge the communication gap between the state government and local communities, ensuring the effective implementation of the administration’s policies and development programmes.