PDP group raises alarm over ‘insecurity, economic woes’ in Edo

The Edo State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Action Group has raised alarm over the deteriorating security situation, economic woes, and alleged mismanagement of state resources in Edo State.

Hon. Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor, the Convener of the PDP Action Group, at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, lamented that the state is experiencing “perilous and precarious times” with high levels of insecurity, kidnapping, and brigandage.

According to Ifaluyi-Isibor, almost 40 Edo citizens and residents have been killed this year alone, with several others kidnapped and still missing.

He cited the recent kidnapping of a young mother, Uyi Ebohon, in Ekpoma, and the brutal killing of three young men by suspected herders in their communities.

The group attributed the rising insecurity to the alleged failure of the state government to tackle the issue effectively, unlike the previous administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki, which had established a sophisticated command and control centre to monitor and prevent crime.

The PDP Action Group also highlighted the economic challenges facing the state, including a significant drop in internally generated revenue (IGR) from N7 billion in October 2024 to N3.5 billion in February 2025.

The group blamed the decline on the alleged mismanagement of state resources, including the abolition of the digital platform for tax collection and the employment of “street touts and hooligans” to collect taxes manually.

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Ifaluyi-Isibor called on the Edo people to demand accountability from the state government, alleging that the governor has committed impeachable offences, including spending outside budgetary allocation and disobeying the Supreme Court judgment on financial autonomy for local government councils.

The group expressed hope that the Edo Governorship Election Tribunal would deliver justice and grant the prayers of Dr. Asue Ighodato, who they claimed truly won the majority of lawful votes in the September 21, 2024, governorship election.

“This year alone, almost 40 Edo citizens and residents have been killed, several others have been kidnapped and still haven’t been found. Just last week, a young mother of 2 by name Uyi Ebohon was kidnap in her home in Ekpoma and her whereabout is still unknown.”

This was a few days after 3 young men were brutally killed by suspected herders in their communities. In the words of Sen. Adams Oshiomole, Edo is under siege and the state government appear helpless and overwhelmed.

“This is in huge contrast to what was obtainable a few months ago under former governor Godwin Obaseki where insecurity was tackled head-on using technology.

Edo had a sophisticated command and control centre where we had security gadgets that provided 24 hours surveillance of hot spots preventing kidnappers from having a safe heaven in our forests.

“Sadly, the command-and-control centre has been relegated. The Government of Godwin Obaseki re-organised the security architecture of state developing a security network where local vigilante groups helped to secure their communities and Edo was adjudged one of the safest states in Nigeria.”

Today, Businesses are forced to close before 7pm to avoid being looted by criminals, this has led to a very significant drop in the IGR of the state from about N7billion in October under Godwin Obaseki to N3.5 billion in February 2025, the Edo state Internal Revenue Service has even raised alarm that the state is losing revenue to none state actors who divert taxes and levies from small businesses into private pockets.

The GDP of Edo has slipped from $25billion as at October to about $17.6billion dollars today, the tax payers count has dropped from 373,000 in July 2024 to less than 320,000 in just 3 months.

This simply tells you that small businesses have lost confidence in the Govt. and are avoiding or evading taxes. The digital platform used to collect taxes and levies by the previous Govt. has been abolished as this new administration has employed the use of street touts and hooligans to collect taxes and levies by hand from business operators. Big investments are closing shop and leaving Edo to other states.

This has significantly increased unemployment by 7%. Edo is now unable to meet her UBEC counterparts funding Quota to enable the state access UBEC grants.

The state is having a hard time meeting her obligation to pensioners as the last arrears paid was made by Godwin Obaseki in August 2024 and the second batch were to be paid in January of 2025.

“As if the state is not bleeding enough, there is a high scale of Fiscal Rascality, gargatuan financial misappropriation and mindless squandermania of state resources today and we are urging Edo people to stand up to the occasion and demand for accountability,” He said

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE