The Edo state government has rejected criticism from the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP), labelling the group an "amorphous body driven by self-interest rather than genuine democratic engagement." Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, made the remarks on Friday in response to a statement by CRPP chairman, Anthony Isibor. Isibor had voiced support for the recent "Edo Youths Protest Against Hardship," calling it a legitimate expression of public frustration over worsening economic conditions in Edo state and Nigeria.
Afegbua dismissed the CRPP's relevance, accusing Isibor of being a "perpetual chairman" of a "non-existent organisation for nearly two decades." He described the group as a "chop-chop organisation" lacking structure and credibility, and said it contributes nothing to meaningful political discourse. The commissioner alleged that Isibor's criticisms were personal and aimed at gaining attention, adding that Governor Monday Okpebholo does not engage in "chop-chop" politics. Afegbua insisted the government remains focused on infrastructure, human capital development, and economic revitalisation, rejecting what he termed political distractions.
Anthony Isibor's latest intervention draws attention not to governance failures but to the diminishing returns of positioning oneself as a permanent critic without institutional weight. His association with a coalition that has no visible base or impact in nine years of Nigeria's shifting political landscape undermines the seriousness of his statements. The Edo government's sharp rebuttal suggests it feels no pressure from such quarters, and rightly so. For Nigerians, this exchange confirms that noise without structure or track record rarely forces accountability.
