The Inter-Party Advisory Council on Wednesday denounced the alleged attack on former presidential candidate Peter Obi, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress John Odigie-Oyegun, and other leaders of the African Democratic Congress in Edo State.
IPAC’s National Publicity Secretary, Egbeola Martins, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja, describing the incident as a troubling rise in political intolerance.
He said, “The Inter-Party Advisory Council unequivocally condemns the brazen and reprehensible attack on former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, former APC National Chairman and former Governor of Edo State, John Odigie-Oyegun and other leaders of the ADC following a political ceremony to formally welcome Olumide Apata into the party in Edo State.
“The reported assault on the ADC secretariat as well as the attack on the residence of Chief Odigie-Oyegun by suspected thugs, represents one of the gravest manifestations of political intolerance in recent times. Such acts are not only criminal but constitute a direct assault on Nigeria’s democratic order.
“Political contestation must never descend into violence. The use of thuggery, intimidation and brute force to silence opposition voices is dangerous, unacceptable and capable of derailing our hard-earned democracy if not urgently and decisively addressed. Democracy thrives on healthy competition of ideas, not the barrel of a gun.”
The council urged President Bola Tinubu and Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo to intervene and ensure those responsible are held accountable.
“IPAC calls on President Bola Tinubu to rise above partisan considerations and unequivocally condemn this dastardly act. We further urge him to deploy the full machinery of the Federal Government to ensure that all those responsible for this coordinated violence are tracked, arrested and prosecuted without delay.
“We equally call on the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, to demonstrate statesmanship by rising above party lines and ensuring that justice is served. IPAC warns that a culture of violence and intolerance against opposition parties poses a serious threat to national stability.
“If left unchecked, it could create a dangerous precedent where political disagreements are settled through force rather than through democratic processes,” Martins stated.
IPAC’s reaction followed reports that Obi, Odigie-Oyegun and other ADC leaders were allegedly attacked by suspected thugs in Benin during political activities marking the formal declaration of Olumide Akpata into the party.
Earlier, Obi’s former campaign spokesman and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, had raised concerns in a statement issued in Abuja.
Images and videos shared by Tanko showed damaged SUVs with shattered windshields, while the gate to Odigie-Oyegun’s residence appeared riddled with bullet holes.
The reported incident has intensified concerns over escalating political tension in Edo State, particularly amid ongoing disputes surrounding recent electoral developments and fears about the safety of political actors.
However, the Edo State Government swiftly dismissed the allegations as false and malicious, rejecting claims that government officials were involved in any attack.
In a statement issued Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, the government said, “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.”
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