Less than 48 hours to the change of guard in Edo State, the incoming Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo said Governor Godwin Obaseki has been missing in Benin, the state capital since last Friday.

Obaseki had alleged the Governor-Elect has not invited him for the Tuesday?s inauguration of the incoming All Progressives Congress (APC).

But on Sunday, Okpebholo in a statement by his media aide, Godspower Inegbe in Abuja, raised the alarm regarding the whereabouts of Obaseki, alleged to have fled Benin City on Friday in an unmarked bus.

Okpebholo disclosed that Obaseki chased out everyone from the Government House on Friday before escaping to a yet-to-be known location more than 72 hours before his official departure from office.

?As of Friday, 8th November, the whereabouts of Obaseki is unknown. He has chased everyone out of Edo State Government House. He has abandoned governance in the State, and he is on the run.

?He has escaped through the road out of Benin. He did not pass through the airport. If he is as popular as he claims, why did he not use the airport to escape? Instead, he hired a bus and disguised while escaping from Edo State.

?Obaseki is trying to push out these narratives in order to distract the public. His antics will not work. We know his plans, and we will continue to expose his shenanigans to Edo people,? the statement reads.

Picking holes on the allegations of non-extension of invitation to inauguration, Okpebholo noted that since he won the election, Obaseki has employed every means to frustrate a peaceful transfer of power.

The Governor-elect accused Obaseki of not inviting him for a meeting or a tour of the Government House.

?Again, Obaseki also claimed that Senator Okpebholo did not invite him to the inauguration, slated for next Tuesday. This is laughable, absurd, and questionable. Since Senator Okpebholo was declared winner, Obaseki has employed every means to frustrate a peaceful transfer of power.

?As a sitting Governor, Obaseki should tell Edo people and Nigerians if he has ever invited the Governor-Elect, Senator Okpebholo to Government House for a meeting or a tour as a responsible man. Has Obaseki called Senator Okpebholo to congratulate him since he won the election??

Dismissing Obaseki?s claim that the Governor-Elect had a stolen mandate, the incoming Governor said ?Obaseki needs a serious and urgent attention.

The Governor-Elect said he won the elections convincingly and added that the tribunal will soon validate his claims.

He warned that Obaseki would not get away with the reckless claims.

?Obaseki will not get away with this misrepresentation. Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Governor-Elect of Edo State, won the 21st September governorship election in Edo State.

?Obaseki is still licking his wounds of defeat and is yet to accept the reality. Edo people, through the ballot, rejected the planned continuation of Obaseki?s satanic government through his glorified stooge, Asue Ighodalo,? he mocked Obaseki.

Okpebholo said Obaseki is trying to influence the outcome of the ongoing case at the tribunal by making false claims. He said the attempt will fail like a pack of cards.

According to him: ?The Peoples Democratic Party is already challenging the outcome of the election in court. We are therefore worried that Obaseki is in a hurry to preempt the outcome of the tribunal by repeatedly making false claims.

?Unfortunately for Obaseki, his baseless claims will not stand. The Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Ighodalo, have no case against Senator Okpebholo. The tribunal will soon confirm that.?

He counselled Obaseki to desist from making false claims and reminded him of severe consequences that may follow if he does not stop.

?Although Senator Okpebholo is a man of peace, we will not sit back and allow him (Obaseki) to keep misrepresenting the true outcome of what happened on the 21st of September.

?Obaseki will soon lose his immunity and if he continues to make his baseless claims, he will face the full wrath of the law very soon and he will prove his unfounded allegations when he is dragged to court.

?We urge Edo people to disregard Obaseki?s reckless statements and support the incoming administration of Senator Okpebholo to remedy the many wrongs of this government,? the statement added. (The Nation: Text, Excluding Headline)

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