The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on Wednesday condemned the alleged attack on former presidential candidate Peter Obi, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress John Odigie-Oyegun, and other leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Edo State.
IPAC’s National Publicity Secretary, Egbeola Martins, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja, describing the incident as a dangerous escalation of political intolerance.
According to the statement, the alleged attack occurred after a political ceremony to formally welcome Olumide Akpata into the ADC in Edo State.
IPAC condemned what it described as a brazen and reprehensible assault on Obi, Odigie-Oyegun and other ADC leaders.
“The reported assault on the ADC secretariat as well as the attack on the residence of Chief Odigie-Oyegun by suspected thugs represents one of the gravest manifestations of political intolerance in recent times,” the statement said.
It added that such actions were criminal and amounted to a direct assault on Nigeria’s democratic order.
IPAC Warns Against Violence in Political Contestation
Martins stressed that political competition must not degenerate into violence, warning that the use of thuggery, intimidation and force to silence opposition voices was dangerous and unacceptable.
“Political contestation must never descend into violence. Democracy thrives on healthy competition of ideas, not the barrel of a gun,” he said.
Council Calls on Tinubu, Okpebholo to Intervene
IPAC called on President Bola Tinubu and Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, to intervene and ensure accountability.
The council urged the President to rise above partisan considerations and deploy the full machinery of the Federal Government to track, arrest and prosecute those responsible for the alleged coordinated violence.
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It also called on the Edo State governor to demonstrate statesmanship by ensuring justice, warning that violence against opposition parties posed a serious threat to national stability.
“If left unchecked, it could create a dangerous precedent where political disagreements are settled through force rather than democratic processes,” Martins stated.
Background to the Reported Attack
IPAC’s reaction followed reports that Obi, Odigie-Oyegun and other ADC chieftains were allegedly attacked by suspected thugs in Benin, Edo State, during political activities linked to Akpata’s formal declaration into the party.
Obi’s former campaign spokesman and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, had earlier raised the alarm in a statement issued in Abuja. Photos and videos he shared on social media showed several sport utility vehicles with smashed windscreens, while the gate leading to Odigie-Oyegun’s residence was riddled with bullet holes.
The incident has heightened concerns over rising political tensions in Edo State, further straining 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.
Edo Government Denies Allegations
However, the Edo State Government has dismissed the claims, describing as false and malicious Obi’s allegation that members of his political camp were attacked by government officials in the state.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okpebholo, the government said the ADC’s account of the incident was a misrepresentation of the facts, adding that it had noted with concern the allegations made by the former Anambra State governor.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
