Benin, Edo – The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has unleashed a scathing critique of Governor Monday Okpebholo's administration, accusing it of "complete dereliction of duty" in the high-profile kidnapping of 22-year-old Aisha Wahab from Auchi, whose safe release earlier this week was secured not by state intervention, but through the compassion and financial contributions of ordinary Edo citizens.

In a fiery press statement issued Saturday by Publicity Secretary Dan Osa-Ogbegie, the PDP expressed profound gratitude to "Almighty God" and "patriotic Edo citizens and groups" for rallying to pay the ₦20 million ransom demanded by the armed bandits who abducted Wahab on October 11 at Igbira Camp in Auchi.

Viral videos of Wahab, tearfully pleading for help with bruises visible on her feet and an armed captor menacing her, had galvanized public outrage and donations, culminating in her freedom after over 10 harrowing days in captivity.

"We salute the swift solidarity and compassion of patriotic Edo citizens... Their moral and financial support reaffirm the enduring spirit of Edo people, a people who continue to stand for one another even when abandoned by those elected to protect them," the statement read.

It contrasted this communal heroism with what it called a "rudderless government" that "turned a blind eye, offering not even the courtesy of empathy or official intervention" while Wahab's aged mother made desperate public appeals for aid.

The PDP's indictment paints a damning portrait of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration, which assumed power in November 2024 following a contentious election. The party claims Okpebholo's team was "preoccupied with its political comedy of promising 2.5 million votes for President Tinubu," a pledge recently upped to 3 million, while "Edo people are bleeding and dying."

This, they argue, exemplifies a leadership "counting imaginary ballots in servile loyalty to external masters" amid a surge in kidnappings that has turned the state into a "national embarrassment."

Critics, including residents quoted in earlier reports, echo this sentiment, lamenting Edo's transformation into a "heartbeat of kidnapping" under Okpebholo's watch.

The July 2025 abduction of two seminarians from the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Auchi—where a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer was killed—remains unresolved despite ransom payments, fueling accusations that security agencies prioritize tracking activists over criminals.

The statement further lambasts the administration for dismantling the "solid and time-tested security architecture" inherited from former Governor Godwin Obaseki (PDP), replacing it with "propaganda, disinformation, and unrelenting partisanship driven by sheer pettiness and malice."

It singles out the Edo State House of Assembly as a "cheerleading extension of the executive," contributing to a "tragic return of fear, helplessness, and bloodshed."

Escalating the rhetoric, the PDP decries "obscene indulgence" in public funds, alleging Okpebholo is splurging on "exotic vehicles for political godfathers, House of Assembly members, and other hangers-on" while families endure "APC-induced hunger, insecurity, and despair." This, they assert, marks "moral decay" unfit for any government valuing "the comfort of its cronies over the safety of its people."

In a pointed reminder that "governance is a continuum," the party warns against "compulsive derangement" in tampering with functional systems, urging Okpebholo to "stop the charade, abandon propaganda, and get to work." With patience wearing thin, the PDP cautions that "Edo people are running out of patience" and may resort to "lawful self-defence measures," invoking the deadly Uromi incident where desperation boiled over into vigilante violence.

Governor Okpebholo's office has yet to respond to the PDP's salvo, though his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, previously defended the administration's security strides, citing arrests and community peace restorations.

Wahab's release, confirmed via community-shared photos on social media, offers a sliver of relief in a state reeling from over 35 killings in recent weeks, per PDP estimates.

Yet, as insecurity festers—exemplified by unresolved cases like the seminarians'—the episode underscores Nigeria's broader crisis, where citizens fund their own salvation while leaders trade barbs.

Edo's political theater risks eclipsing urgent reforms, but with the PDP's call for "security, dignity, and protection, not excuses," pressure mounts for tangible action before desperation ignites further unrest.