Ighodalo’s campaign DG protests as Edo seals hotel

The Edo State Government on Tuesday sealed Eterno Hotel, a property owned by Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, the Director General of the Asue/Ogie Campaign Council.

The hotel, located on Aiguobasimwin Crescent, off Ikpokpan Road in the Government Reservation Area of Benin City, was shut down by officials of the Edo State Development and Building Control Agency.

An official notice bearing the code “29.425 ESDBCA” was pasted on the premises.

The ESDBCA is responsible for enforcing state regulations on urban planning, development, and building control.

Guests were seen checking out of the hotel, while others who arrived to lodge were turned away due to the closure.

Iduoriyekemwen, a former governorship aspirant and 2023 PDP senatorial candidate for Edo South—who lost to Labour Party’s Senator Neda Imasuen—condemned the action, describing it as politically motivated.

“I was at home when my manager called to inform me that officials were sealing off the hotel,” he told reporters. “I asked to speak with the government agents, but they refused to take my calls. I rushed down to the hotel and asked them what law I had violated, but they simply said they were acting on government orders.”

Visibly upset, he continued: “You can see that guests are leaving. I don’t understand why the state government would target and attempt to destroy an indigene’s investment. They had earlier revoked the Certificate of Occupancy of the land. I saw that in the papers. Now this? I really don’t know what’s going on.”

Asked about his next move, the PDP chieftain said he would take legal action to challenge the government’s decision.