Benin, Edo State – Governor Monday Okpebholo has condemned the recent attack on members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Edo State, describing the incident as an internal party dispute that escalated beyond control.
In a statement issued Tuesday night, the governor sympathised with affected party members and criticised what he called the importation of thugs and miscreants into the state under the guise of political activities. He warned that as Edo’s chief security officer, he would not allow the state to be turned into a theatre of conflict due to political rivalry. According to him, although the exact motive behind the attack remains unclear, he believes the incident was aimed at tarnishing Edo’s image as one of Nigeria’s most peaceful states.
Okpebholo stressed that no amount of political blackmail would distract residents from supporting what he described as a people-focused government. He maintained that politics should revolve around performance and engagement rather than violence, adding that orchestrating unrest for political gain reflects a lack of meaningful value to offer voters. He also urged all political parties to resolve internal disputes before organising events and called on security agencies to monitor gatherings that could degenerate into violence.
The attack reportedly occurred at the Benin City residence of former APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun shortly after ADC chieftains returned from the party secretariat, where they formally received former Labour Party governorship candidate Olumide Akpata into the party.
Reacting to the development, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, who is also a chieftain of the ADC, condemned the attack and vowed that a formal complaint would be lodged. He described the incident as unacceptable and warned against any form of intimidation. The ADC leadership also declared that it would not be deterred, insisting that violence and intimidation undermine democratic principles and must be condemned.
