Dare Babalola
Prominent politicians, including former presidential candidate Peter Obi and ex-APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, were allegedly assaulted by suspected thugs in Edo State on Tuesday.
The incident also involved some leaders of the African Democratic Congress.
The incident was confirmed in a statement issued in Abuja by Dr Yunusa Tanko, former spokesman for Obi’s presidential campaign and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide.
The statement read, “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.”
In photos and videos sent by Tanko, several SUV windscreens were smashed, while the gate leading to Odigie-Oyegun’s residence was riddled with bullets.
The alleged attack occurred during political activities surrounding the formal declaration of Olumide Akpata as an ADC member, heightening concerns about political tensions in the state.
Tuesday’s reported attack in Edo adds another layer of tension to an already charged political atmosphere, as opposition figures continue to challenge recent electoral outcomes and raise concerns about the safety of political actors and the state of Nigeria’s democracy.
