January 19, (THEWILL) — For the second time in a year, Edo State Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, has denied reports of any rift between him and Governor Monday Okpebholo. He called on citizens to treat the reports with a pinch of salt. But pundits say there is more to it than meets the eye.
Almost a year ago on January 28, 2025, barely two months after he was sworn into office alongside his principal, Mr Idahosa made a similar denial while receiving a delegation of the executive and members of the Edo Parliament of Nigeria, who paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Benin City, the Edo State capital. According to Idahosa, then, mischief makers were behind the rumour, which he described as unfounded, adding that the relationship between him and Governor Okpebholo remained most cordial, like an elder-younger brother relationship.
His Chief Press Secretary, Friday Aghedo later issued a statement to that effect. According to Idahosa, Aghedo said in his statement, the Governor Okpebholo-led administration was “keen on delivering good governance and implementing laudable policies that would uplift the standard of living of Edo citizens.”
He stated, “First, let me dispel a rumour making the rounds that there is a rift between me and my principal, Governor Monday Okpebholo. This is far from the truth. “Mischief makers are behind the rumour, as the relationship between me and my principal remained most cordial, like an elder-younger brother relationship. I also appreciate my principal, having found me worthy to be his deputy.
“Let me also appreciate this parliament. I am also a member of this parliament. It is such a great honour to have the calibre of men, most especially from Ovia, to pay this courtesy visit. I am very much aware that you are doing so much to support this government. “We will be needing your support and prayers, and we also know that the majority of you are professionals. When we need your contributions, ideas, and suggestions, please, be there for us.”
Idahosa urged Edo citizens and residents to stay vigilant and refuse to allow themselves to be carried away by wrong information, but rather, to focus on ongoing developments by the current administration. He added, “We will be committed to that, to foster more development and human capital development to our dear state.
“We are also committed to prioritising the interests of the Edo people. We would put the Edo people first, before our interests. So, be assured that this administration led by Senator Monday Okpebholo, is going to be the administration of the Edo people”.
In his earlier address, the President of the Edo Parliament of Nigeria, Ikponmwonsa Omorodion, who was represented by the Secretary-General of the Parliament, Aimufua Festus, congratulated the deputy governor on the victory of the recently conducted elections in the state.
Then on January 16, 2026, Mr Idahosa repeated the same denial, this time on his confirmed Facebook page. Edo state governor, Monday Okpebholo, has dismissed rumours about a rift between him and the deputy governor, Dennis Idahosa.
He dismissed reports suggesting discord between him and Governor Okpebholo, describing such narratives as false, sponsored and aimed at destabilising the administration. In a post on his verified Facebook account on Friday, Idahosa said certain individuals, unsettled by the unity and focus of the state leadership, were behind coordinated misinformation campaigns on social media.
“It has come to my attention that some individuals, threatened by the strong bond between my boss, His Excellency Senator Monday Okpebholo, and myself, have resorted to sponsoring false narratives in a desperate bid to sow discord”, he said. The Deputy Governor assured Edo citizens that such efforts would not succeed, stressing that the partnership between him and the Governor remains solid and unwavering.
“As long as my boss, my senior brother, and I remain united, every such plan is bound to fail. I stand solidly behind my boss like the Rock of Gibraltar — I stand where he stands and I sit where he sits”, Idahosa declared. He further warned that any attempt to divide the leadership of the state or weaken their administration was “dead on arrival”, urging the public to disregard misleading reports and remain focused on the government’s developmental agenda.
Even so, pundits say the repeated denial has followed a pattern that should be closely watched as there is no smoke without fire. But a government source who confided in THEWILL said there is nothing to it, even as he refused to be quoted. The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Dr. Patrick Ebojele was unavailable for comment as repeated call to his phone failed to get through.
So far, on his part, Governor Okpebholo has said he has absolute trust in Idahosa. Speaking during a thanksgiving service to mark Idahosa’s 45th birthday last August, Okpebhole disclosed that his relationship with Idahosa was built on trust that predates their joint ticket for the governorship; He said he always consulted Idahosa on every decision he took as governor
Okpebholo recalled how he told Idahosa at the lobby of the Transcorps Hilton in Abuja that he (Idahosa) would be his deputy, saying, “The word of the prophet today has come to pass today.”
He said, “I have absolute confidence in him, and we have been working very closely. We make decisions together. When you hear Akpakorescue, there is an inside discussion before we execute. “Before we execute anything, we discuss and agree, and sometimes he will tell me, remember where we are coming from, remember your ways, so I see him as a partner and I believe in him.
The Thanksgiving service held at the Living Faith Church in Adesuwa was attended by political bigwigs in the state, such as Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Hon Johnson Oghuma, former Deputy Governor, Pius Odubu, former Chief of Staff to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mike Ogiadomhe, Lucky Imasuen, amongst others.
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