A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress in Edo State, Ken Imasuagbon, has urged President Bola Tinubu to rein in members of the All Progressives Congress in the state following a reported attack on opposition figures in Benin City.
Imasuagbon made the appeal on Wednesday while reacting to an alleged attack on the ADC secretariat and the residence of a former Edo State governor, John Odigie-Oyegun. The incident reportedly occurred during a meeting attended by the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and other political stakeholders.
Describing the development as a threat to democracy, Imasuagbon warned that failure to check alleged excesses by APC members could throw the state into chaos.
“It is deeply troubling that Edo State is witnessing this emerging wave of political intolerance,” he said. “What happened on Tuesday is a prelude to chaos and anarchy if not urgently addressed. President Tinubu must call his party members in Edo to order before the situation spirals out of control.”
He alleged that the attack bore the “imprint of ruling party hirelings,” stressing that political intimidation and violence have no place in a democratic society. According to him, the presidency has a responsibility to ensure that members of the ruling party uphold democratic norms.
Reports indicated that some party members at the secretariat sustained injuries. The meeting later shifted to Odigie-Oyegun’s residence, where gunshots were allegedly fired and vehicles parked near the gate were damaged. Dignitaries, including Obi, Olumide Akpata, Odigie-Oyegun and former governor Prof. Oserhiemen Osunbor, were said to be inside the residence at the time.
However, the Edo State Government dismissed the allegations as false and malicious. In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Patrick Ebojele, the government denied any involvement in the incident.
“The Edo State Government has noted with concern the allegation by former Anambra State governor and Labour Party figure, Peter Obi, claiming that members of his political camp were attacked by government officials in Edo State,” the statement read.
The government maintained that the Okpebholo administration “is not, and will never be, in the business of attacking innocent Nigerians, regardless of their political affiliation,” adding that no directive was issued by the governor or any organ of government to target members of any political party.
It described the claims as lacking credible evidence and aimed at misleading the public, insisting that its focus remains on governance, public safety and economic development rather than political persecution.
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