Peter Obi Escapes Assassination Attempt in Edo State

Peter Obi and John Odigie-Oyegun Escape Assassination Attempt in Edo State Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and veteran ...

Peter Obi and John Odigie-Oyegun Escape Assassination Attempt in Edo State

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and veteran politician Chief John Odigie-Oyegun narrowly escaped assassination attempt in Benin City on Tuesday.

The incident occurred shortly after the two prominent figures, along with other political leaders, attended the formal declaration of Barrister Olumide Akpata the former Labour Party governorship candidate in Edo into the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at the party's secretariat in the state capital.

According to accounts from witnesses and statements issued by associates, armed individuals trailed the group from the ADC secretariat to the residence of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and an elder statesman. Upon arrival at the residence, the assailants reportedly opened fire, targeting the gate and riddling several official vehicles with bullets.

National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, who was part of the delegation, raised the alarm via a statement and social media posts. He described the event as a direct attack on the leadership of the ADC and associated figures.

"PO [Peter Obi] and the leadership of the ADC are under siege and attack in Benin, Edo State," Tanko stated. "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."

In a video circulating online, Peter Obi addressed the incident while standing near the damaged property. He pointed to the bullet-riddled gate at Odigie-Oyegun's residence and lamented the state of Nigeria's democracy.

"This is where our democracy has reached. A former governor, and you can see what happened in front of his house, where hoodlums came shooting," Obi said, expressing concern over the escalating political violence.

Reports indicate that no fatalities occurred, and both Obi and Odigie-Oyegun escaped unharmed. Some members of the delegation reportedly fled for safety during the gunfire, and there are mentions of injured individuals being taken to hospitals, though details on casualties remain limited and unconfirmed in official statements.

The attack has sparked widespread condemnation, with observers linking it to rising political tensions ahead of future elections. Some reports suggest the incident followed threats or related disturbances at the ADC secretariat earlier in the day, including vandalism after Obi and others had departed.

Authorities have not yet issued an official statement confirming the motive or identifying suspects, and police investigations are expected to follow. The event has heightened calls for improved security for political figures and greater protection of democratic processes in the country.

As Nigeria continues to navigate its complex political landscape, incidents like this underscore ongoing concerns about political intolerance and the safety of opposition voices. Both Obi and Odigie-Oyegun remain safe, with the former breaking his silence to highlight the broader implications for the nation's democratic health.