The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has denounced the attack on Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential flagbearer, and other party leaders in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
In a post on X, Yunusa Tanko, national coordinator of the Obidient Movement, disclosed that Obi and several chieftains were attacked on Tuesday at the residence of John Odigie-Oyegun, a senior figure in the ADC.
Tanko explained that the incident occurred shortly after the group returned from the ADC secretariat, where they had officially received Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party’s 2023 governorship candidate in Edo State, into the ADC.
In a separate post on X, Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC national publicity secretary, described the attack as “a grave and disturbing development”, noting that it amounts to a major setback for the country’s democracy.
Abdullahi linked the incident to a July 2025 speech in which Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, “warned” Obi not to come to the state without his permission.
“We didn’t know at the time that the governor’s threat would include an assassination plot,” the ADC spokesperson said.
He noted that violence and intimidation are “the weapons of those who fear the will of the people”.
According to him, such actions stain Nigeria’s democracy and must be condemned by all who believe in freedom.
Abdullahi insisted that the ADC would neither bow nor retreat, saying the party would stand firm, speak without fear, and continue the peaceful struggle for a Nigeria where the opposition is not punished and every citizen is free.