Ex-Deputy Governor Omobayo Rejects Governor Okpebholo’s Ultimatum, Cites Appeal Court Case on Tenure Legality

The political tension in Edo State has escalated into a legal face-off as former Deputy Governor, Marvellous Omobayo, firmly challenged the seven-day ultimatum issued by Governor Monday Okpebholo to return all government property in his possession.

Governor Okpebholo, through his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, had on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, described Omobayo’s brief tenure (April to November 2024) as “illegitimate” following a Federal High Court judgment and warned that failure to comply within seven days would lead to his arrest.

However, Omobayo hit back, sending a cautionary letter to security chiefs, including the Commissioner of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), insisting that the state government is attempting to resort to “self-help.”

Omobayo’s challenge rests squarely on the judiciary. He maintained that the entire issue of the legitimacy of his time in office is pending before the Court of Appeal, Abuja, and that an appeal and a related application for stay of execution are actively before the appellate court.

“The issue of the legitimacy or otherwise of my tenure as Deputy Governor of Edo State… is currently the subject of Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/856/2024 before the Court of Appeal, Abuja,” Omobayo wrote. He argued that since the matter is sub judice, “It is only the Court of Appeal that can validly pronounce on the legitimacy or otherwise of my tenure,” and cautioned that using security agencies to enforce the directive could amount to contempt of court.

The former Deputy Governor affirmed that he remains “entitled to all benefits” and privileges of his past office until the Court of Appeal rules on the matter, turning the dispute over government assets into a high-stakes legal and political battle in the state.