The governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has condemned an attack on members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing it as an internal party dispute that escalated into violence.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Mr Okpebholo expressed sympathy for those affected and said the incident was regrettable, warning against the use of violence in political activities.
He alleged that some individuals had taken advantage of the state’s peaceful environment to carry out the attack, adding that the importation of thugs under the guise of politics would not be tolerated.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“As chief security officer of the state, I will not allow Edo to be turned into a theatre of conflict,” he said.
The governor also suggested that the motive behind the attack may have been to damage the state’s reputation, which he described as one of the most peaceful in Nigeria.
He urged residents to remain calm and not allow the incident to undermine public confidence, while calling on political actors to resolve disputes internally.
Police and other security agencies have been asked to increase monitoring of political gatherings to prevent further violence.
The attack reportedly took place in Benin City at the residence of former APC national chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, where ADC members had gathered.
Gunmen, suspected to be political thugs, targeted party chieftains shortly after they returned from an event at the ADC secretariat, where former Labour Party governorship candidate Olumide Akpata was formally received into the party.
Reacting to the incident, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi condemned the attack and said a formal complaint would be made.
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“We cannot have a situation where violence is allowed to threaten citizens,” he said.
The ADC also denounced the attack, with its spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi stating that the party would not be intimidated.
He described the incident as an assault on democratic values and called for it to be condemned by all stakeholders.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
