Condemnations have continued to trail Tuesday’s violent attack unleashed at the house of former governor of Edo State, John Oyegun, where Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, and senior members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) where holding a meeting.
The attack which took place in Benin City, Edo State, came, after suspected political thugs disrupted party activities and opened fire at multiple locations.
The incident occurred during political events surrounding the formal declaration of former governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata, into the ADC, heightening concerns over escalating political tensions in the state.
Dr. Yunusa Tanko, former spokesman of Obi’s presidential campaign and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, disclosed the development in a statement issued in Abuja, describing the attack as a direct threat to democratic participation.
According to him, armed men allegedly trailed Obi and other ADC leaders from the party’s secretariat to the residence of the party’s national leader, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, where they reportedly opened fire.
“Peter Obi and the leadership of the ADC were under siege in Benin. Armed individuals followed us from the ADC secretariat to Chief Odigie-Oyegun’s residence, shot at the gate and destroyed several vehicles in what appeared to be a failed assassination attempt,” Tanko said.
Photographs and video footage circulated after the attack showed shattered windscreens of several sport utility vehicles, while bullet holes were visible on the gate leading into Odigie-Oyegun’s residence.
Eyewitnesses said the violence began shortly after hoodlums invaded the ADC event venue along Ogbelaka Street, firing sporadically and causing panic among attendees.
One witness claimed the attackers specifically pursued the convoy conveying Obi before continuing their assault at another meeting location.
“The situation was chaotic. People ran for safety as shots were fired. Many feared the worst before confirmation came that Mr. Obi was safe,” the witness said.
Obi’s media adviser, Valentine Obienyem, later confirmed that the former Anambra State governor escaped unharmed.
Reports indicated that unknown gunmen also stormed the ADC secretariat, injuring at least three persons during the attack.
Reacting, the ADC strongly condemned the violence, describing it as a calculated assault on democratic values.
In a statement issued in Benin, the party’s South-South Zonal Publicity Secretary, Mabel Oboh, said the attack marked the second violent incident targeting the Edo State secretariat.
She disclosed that several key party figures, including Obi, Odigie-Oyegun, ADC National Chief Whip Festus Igbinoba, National Legal Adviser Oserheimen Osunbor and herself, had left the venue shortly before the attackers struck.
Preliminary information, she said, suggested possible involvement of members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), although investigations were still ongoing.
“What happened is not merely an attack on a political party but an assault on democracy itself. Politics must never become a theatre of violence, intimidation or harassment,” she said.
Oboh maintained that while the ADC remained committed to peaceful political engagement, it would not tolerate intimidation of its members, adding that security measures across party activities would be strengthened.
She also confirmed that Odigie-Oyegun had invited security authorities to inspect the scene, while calling on law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation and prosecute those responsible.
Echoing similar concerns, Edo State ADC chairman, Kennedy Odion, said party leaders had received intelligence about a possible attack and ended the programme prematurely.
“Shortly after we heard APC members were coming to attack us, we quickly ended the event. Minutes later, thugs invaded the venue, injured three persons and destroyed property,” he said.
Odion added that the attackers later proceeded to Odigie-Oyegun’s residence where several parked vehicles were vandalised during another round of violence.
He confirmed that the matter had been reported to the police commissioner, who visited the scene and assured the party of a full investigation.
The ADC has since urged security agencies to act swiftly to prevent further escalation, warning that political violence threatens public safety and undermines democratic participation ahead of future electoral activities.
Many political observers have however, noted that the ADC should be blamed for the attack which may have followed internal wranglings in the party. Referring to an event that occurred before the shooting, an observer on social said: “It was purely an internal thing. The Owie led faction of the party was locked out of the venue and protested the treatment they got. What you saw, was a reaction to the Owie/Oyegun fracas. They should stop blaming the government. The government will not send street thugs to assassinate or eliminate anybody. The ADC turned the whole affair around and made it a propaganda within minutes.”
However, Nigerians have called for a thorough investigation into the attack, noting that those involved must be brought to book.
