Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State set off his first hour in office on Tuesday with an order of probes into two of the most controversial actions of his immediate-predecessor, Godwin Obaseki.

The new governor has disclosed plans of a probe of the refusal of Obaseki to fence off 14 members of the 7th Edo State House of Assembly who were refused entry into the House by the former governor.

Despite winning their elections to serve their respective constituencies in 2019, the 14 members of the House who were perceived to be associates of Obaseki’s then estranged political godfather, Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, were refused inauguration. 

They sat out their tenure as externals and were never officially allowed formal membership of the House ostensibly because of their inclination to Oshiomhole.

Besides that probe, Gov. Okpebholo during his inauguration speech, also directed the Chief Judge of Edo State to probe the delay by Obaseki to inaugurate Judges who were cleared  by the National Judicial Council (NJC) for appointment since 2023.

The move by Okpebholo to institute probes, the refusal to inaugurate the 14 members-elect of the 7th Assembly, is bound to find resonance with democracy actors on the willingness by political actors to frustrate the democratic process on account of personal political reasons.