Former presidential candidate Peter Obi, ex-APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and some leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were on Tuesday reportedly attacked by suspected thugs in Edo State.
Dr Yunusa Tanko, Obi’s former campaign spokesman and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, revealed this in a statement from Abuja.
The statement said: “Peter Obi and the leadership of the ADC are under siege and attack in Benin, Edo State. 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.”
Photos and videos shared by Tanko showed smashed SUV windscreens and bullets riddling the gate of Odigie-Oyegun’s residence.
The alleged attack happened during activities marking Olumide Akpata’s formal entry into the ADC, raising fresh concerns about political tensions in Edo State.
Tuesday’s incident adds to an already tense political climate, as opposition figures continue to dispute recent election outcomes and question the safety of politicians and the state of Nigeria’s democracy.
The attack comes less than 24 hours after ADC’s candidate in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairmanship election, Dr Moses Paul, and the Obidient Movement rejected the February 21 poll results, claiming irregularities and insisting the results did not reflect the people’s true choice.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Christopher Maikalangu of the APC winner, with 40,295 votes out of 62,861 valid votes. Paul came second with 12,109 votes, while the PDP candidate scored 3,398 votes.
In a statement on Monday from Abuja, Paul accused INEC of mishandling the election, alleging voter suppression, result manipulation, intimidation of party supporters, and widespread vote buying across several wards.
