Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has threatened to arrest the contractor responsible for a section of the Benin-Abraka Road over what he described as the abandonment of the project despite payment by the administration of his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki.

Okpebholo made the statement while speaking with members of the All Progressives Congress in Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode Local Government Areas during his ongoing engagement with party members ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to the governor, the Benin-Abraka Road project was divided between two contractors before he assumed office. He said one contractor had continued work on its assigned portion, which he put at about 75 per cent completion, while the other had allegedly abandoned its section.

The governor said contractual arrangements inherited from the previous administration had initially limited his ability to intervene directly in the project. He alleged that the contractor handling the troubled section had already received payment before the current administration came into office.

Okpebholo also alleged that the contractor had a personal relationship with former Governor Obaseki. That allegation was made by the governor and was not independently established in the reports reviewed by TalkNaijaMedia.

Speaking about the condition of the road, Okpebholo said the hardship experienced by motorists and residents had compelled him to publicly address the matter.

He said he had previously avoided making public comments about the project but changed his position after hearing complaints during his visit to the affected communities.

The governor then issued his strongest warning yet, saying he would move against the contractor responsible for the abandoned section.

The latest statement comes shortly after the Edo State Government announced that it had approved the revocation and re-award of the failed section of the Benin-Abraka Road at Ikpe Waterside in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa disclosed the decision in September after residents, youth leaders and traditional representatives protested the poor condition of the road. He said the affected stretch had been divided into two sections and awarded to two contractors before the present administration took office on November 12, 2024.

Idahosa said the contractor handling one section had completed about 76 per cent of the assigned work, while the contractor responsible for the Ikpe Waterside section had failed to deliver the project to the required standard. The government said palliative repairs would also be undertaken while the process for re-awarding the contract was completed.

The Benin-Abraka Road has previously attracted scrutiny over the handling of its contracts. In December 2024, Edo's Assets Verification Committee raised questions about the contract for the 17.5-kilometre Phase 1C section, reporting that its value had increased substantially after the initial award to Nsik Engineering Company Limited in May 2023.

The road remains an important route for communities and motorists travelling between parts of Edo and Delta states, making prolonged construction delays a significant concern for residents and businesses along the corridor.

During his latest visit, Okpebholo was accompanied by APC leaders and government officials. His tour also took him to Iguomo-Nisi in Uhunmwode Local Government Area, where he met party members and discussed the party's preparations for the 2027 elections.

Edo APC Chairman Jarrett Tenebe commended party supporters for their turnout and urged them to maintain their support for the governor and the party.

Tenebe also called on APC members to work towards the party's stated target of delivering 2.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in Edo during the January 2027 presidential election. That figure is a party target, not a verified forecast of election results.

The governor's latest comments therefore come against the backdrop of an already announced decision by the Edo Government to revoke and re-award the troubled section of the Benin-Abraka Road, as the administration faces pressure to improve the road and ease the difficulties experienced by motorists and residents.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia