By Owen Eresoyen, Benin
History was recently created in Edo State with the inauguration of the first inter-party transition committee by the state government.
Since the dawn of democracy in 1999, this is the first time an inter-party transition committee will be inaugurated to prepare a change over notes between one political party and the state government of different political party platform.
The inter-party transition committee is meant to ensure the success of this momentous event
Already, the committee has swung into action and has also been actively engaged in facilitating a seamless transition from the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki administration to the incoming Governor-elect, Sen Monday Okpebholo administration.
Credit must be given to Gov Obaseki for initiating the idea of an inter-party committee to midwife the new administration
The committee is made up of eminently qualified Edo citizens who were carefully selected from both the ruling PDP and the opposition APC and also entrusted with the crucial task of ensuring seamless transition process as well as minimizing disruptions during the inception of the new administration.
This marks a significant milestone in Edo State’s political history because, this is the first time one political party will transfer power to another, particularly when the incoming administration is from the opposition party.
In 1999, there was no formal handover as the then governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion got a second term mandate in 2003 to complete a mandatory two tenure which ended in May 2007.
In 2007, the Lucky Igbinedion administration successfully hand over to the Oserhiemen Osunbor of the same party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to continue the intra-party transition.
Although the Osunbor administration was later replaced in November 2008 with Senator (Comrade) Adams Ashiomhole of the Action Congress then , through an Appeal Court judgment, the timing of hand over did not give room for setting up of an inter party transition committee.
In 2016, a similar scenario continued with the outgoing governor, Adams Oshiomhole passing the baton to his successor, Godwin Obaseki of the same party.
However, in 2020, the political landscape shifted as the incumbent governor left his party, APC and sought re-election under the PDP and won to continue his second tenure.
The recent concluded Edo state guber election on September 21 2024 where Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressive Congress APC was declared winner changed the political dynamics to set the stage for the establishment of the first inter-party transition committee .
Both political parties have appointed capable and qualified Edo citizens to serve on the transition committees.
The 24-member APC transition committee is spearheaded by Dr. Pius Odubu, a former deputy governor of the state during the Comrade Adams Oshiomole administration while the state government team is led by the secretary to the state government, Joseph Ebiogbe.