‘A stain on democracy’ — ADC condemns attack on Obi, party chieftains in Edo

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the attack on Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, and some chieftains of the party in Benin, the Edo state capital.

In a post on X, Yunusa Tanko, national coordinator of the Obidient Movement, said Obi and some party chieftains were attacked at the residence of John Odigie-Oyegun, a chieftain of the ADC, on Tuesday.

Tanko said the incident occurred shortly after they returned from the ADC secretariat, where they formally welcomed Olumide Akpata, the 2023 LP governorship candidate for Edo, into the party.

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.