Gov Okpebholo Seals Hotel Owned by Asuen Ighodalo’s Campaign DG

The Edo State Government has sealed off Eterno Hotel, a high-end facility owned by Hon. Mathew Iduoriyekemwen, Director General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship campaign for Dr. Asuen Ighodalo. The hotel, located in the Government Reservation Area (GRA) of Benin City, witnessed a mass exodus of guests on Monday as officials from the Edo State Development and Building Control Agency (ESDBCA) enforced the closure.

The ESDBCA, responsible for enforcing state regulations on planning and building control, marked the premises with an official code (29.425 ESDBCA) during the operation. The hotel is situated adjacent to another recently sealed three-star hotel allegedly owned by an APC stalwart and businessman.

Reacting to the development, Iduoriyekemwen described the government’s action as politically motivated. “I was at home when my manager called to say they were sealing up my hotel. I asked to speak with the officials, but they refused, so I rushed down there. When I asked what offence I had committed, they simply said they were following instructions from the government,” he said. “You can see some of the guests are leaving.”

The PDP chieftain, a former governorship aspirant who contested and lost the 2023 Edo South Senatorial election to Labour Party’s Senator Neda Imansuen, also recalled a previous incident in which the government revoked the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for the hotel’s land. “I don’t know why a state would want to destroy an indigene’s investment. Last time it was the C of O, now this,” he said.

Iduoriyekemwen stated that he would challenge the action in court.