Obi, Oyegun, other ADC chieftains attacked in Edo

By Baba Martins, By Itodo Daniel Sule, John Chuks Azu (Abuja) & Usman A. Bello (Benin)

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi and some chieftains of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) including Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, were yesterday, attacked by suspected thugs in Benin, Edo State.

Our correspondent gathered that the suspected thugs invaded the Secretariat of the party shortly after the former LP presidential  candidate, Chief Odigie-Oyegun and other dignitaries had left the place to Chief Odigie-Oyegun’s residence, injuring many supporters including women.

It was further gathered that the suspected hoodlums who came in several vehicles allegedly moved from the Secretariat to Chief Oyegun’s residence where the dignitaries were having meeting and shattered the classes of the vehicle parked outside the house.

National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, had in a statement issued in Abuja raised an alarm  that some armed men trailed the ADC chieftains to the residence of Chief Oyegun.

The statement read, “Peter Obi and the leadership of the ADC are under siege and attack in Benin, Edo State. At the formal declaration of Olumide Akpata into the African Democratic Congress, armed individuals followed us from the ADC Secretariat to the residence of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

“They shot at the gate and destroyed several vehicles in what appears to be a survived assassination attempt on our lives. Democracy is in danger.”

The Edo State Police Command’s, spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the incident.

She said shortly after the event concluded, a group of suspected hoodlums disrupted the premises and chased attendees away.

“Some plastic chairs and canopies were damaged during the incident. No casualties were reported,” adding that the personnel of the Command responded swiftly to the distress call, prompting the suspects to flee the scene.

“Security has since been reinforced around the premises, and normalcy has been fully restored. The situation remains under control while investigations are ongoing to arrest the perpetrators of this crime” she said.

As at the time of filing this report, our reporter could not get response from the APC, as call put across to the state chairman were not answered.

ADC Party Chairman,  Kenneth Odion, in his reaction, said the suspected thugs stormed the secretariat after Peter Obi and other dignitaries had left the venue of the defection to Oyegun’s house.

He said many supporters especially women sustained injuries while  chairs and canopies were destroyed during the attack.

Odion explained that after attacking supporters at the Secretariat, the suspected thugs came to Chief Oyegun’s and shattered the classes of vehicles parked at the  house.

According to him, this is the usual way of APC sending thugs  to intimidate other parties because they don’t want challenge in Edo, adding that APC had come to stay in the state

Daily Trust reports that the attack is coming 20 days after the first attack, in which suspected thugs attempted to set the secretariat ablaze.

Our correspondent reports that today’s attack is coming 24 hours after governor Monday Okpebholo, accused the ADC of sponsoring cultism during the commissioning and handing over 54 construction  equipment to the 18 local government.

Governor Okpebholo had last year warned the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, about coming to the state saying he must obtain security clearance before coming to the state.

Obi however visited Benin, the state capital, on July 7 and donated N15m million to St Philomena Hospital School of Nursing Sciences for the completion of projects in the school.

It’s an assassination attempt- Obi

The  former presidential candidate of the Labour Party who is now a chieftain of the ADC has , reacted to the attack in Edo State saying it’s an assassination attempt.

Obi, while condemning  the attack as “totally unacceptable” i said he survived “an assassination attempt” and called on security agencies  to protect political figures in the country.

He the incident would be reported to the appropriate authorities.

PDP calls for probe into attack

The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the attack of the African Democratic Congress, ADC chieftain Mr Peter Obi in Edo State.

While condemning the attack, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, comrade Ini Ememobong also blamed the Edo State Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo alleging that he has said before that the attack will take place.

In a terse message to Daily Trust, the PDP Spokesman said “The attack on Peter Obi was premeditated and the responsibility falls squarely on the laps of the Edo State Governor who had earlier promised that this will happen.

“It shows the irresponsibility of the APC government at all levels who are afraid of the opposition.”

The PDP also said this “act is most condemnable and must be investigated and the executors and their sponsors prosecuted.”

CISLAC condemns attack

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) strongly condemned yesterday’s attack on the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.

CISLAC Auwal Musa Rafsanjani Executive Director Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) said the incident is a dangerous reminder of the persistent threat of political violence in Nigeria.

“Violence, intimidation, and the weaponization of thuggery have no place in a democratic society and represent a direct assault on citizens’ constitutional rights to freedom of movement, association, and political participation,” it stated adding that CISLAC is deeply concerned that such acts, if left unchecked, could escalate tensions nationwide and undermine the credibility of the electoral process.”

The group demanded a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation into the incident, with all perpetrators brought to justice and called on security agencies to strengthen preventive measures to ensure that all candidates and political actors can campaign freely without fear of intimidation or attack.

It’s a dangerous signal ahead of 2027 – KDI

A civil society group, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) also condemned the reported attack on Obi, and Odigie-Oyegun, by suspected thugs in Edo State on Tuesday.

Reacting to the incident in a telephone interview, Umar Mohammed Dan’Asabe

Senior program Manager and Head of Democratic Accountability and Elections Program at Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), described the development as “an affront to dissent and opposition politics,” warning that it sends a dangerous signal ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said political leaders must operate with caution and ensure that the democratic space remains open for all actors, regardless of party affiliation.

“The security of every citizen, irrespective of where they are from, is guaranteed by the Constitution. People should be safe whether they are in their states or elsewhere,” he said.

The activist suggested that the incident may have political undertones, adding that all members of the political class must avoid actions capable of heating up the polity at a time Nigerians are already grappling with economic and social challenges.

The civil rights activist also expressed concern over what he described as the “loud silence” of the Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo following the incident, arguing that an attack on a former presidential candidate in the residence of an elder statesman and former governor in the state should ordinarily prompt immediate official response.

According to him, the failure to swiftly address the situation raises troubling questions and should be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians.

‘Attack stands condemned’

Chibueze Maduka, a legal practitioner said as Nigeria runs a democracy where citizens have the freedom of association as enshrined in Section 40 of the Constitution, the attack stands condemned.

He said,  “This incident is very jarring and it is reminiscent of the days of rampant political assassinations in Nigeria,” he said adding that the government under chapter two of the Constitution, owes the nation a duty to investigate, fish out and prosecute the perpetrators of this heinous act”.

Akpata defects to ADC

The 2024, governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Edo State,  Olumide Akpata still defected to the ADC.

The  former president of the Nigeria Bar Association, was received into the party by Mr Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, the former executive governor of Edo, Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor and other party chieftains.

Speaking shortly after he received party’s registration card, Olumide declared thatd his defection alongside his running mate in the 2024 governorship election, Alhaji Yusuf Asama Kadiri (SAN), members of the Obidience Movement in the State was to add value to the ADC.

On his part, Mr Peter Obi, said ADC is totally committed to a new Nigeria despite the political move by those in power to do everything possible to stop the party us.

“We must build a country that works for everybody. It is not working for everybody today. We must build a country where nobody can be somebody without knowing anybody. It must happen here, and that is what is important”.

He said Nigeria must move from a consumption country to  a production country to make a new Nigeria that is possible.

In his remarks, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, a national leader of the party posited that the stock of the party is growing daily not only in numbers but also in quality.

“Having Barrister Olumide Akpata in our party shows the strength of the ADC. When I spoke to our new member, the newest member, Olumide,  a few months ago, he wasn’t totally finished with politics.

Earlier,the  State chairman of ADC, Kennedy  Odion,  described Olumide Akpata as one Nigerian that understabds how the country should be piloted..

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