(DDM) – A political storm erupted after an outspoken supporter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Engr. Tom Steve, publicly called for the arrest of Peter Obi following his recent visit to Edo State.
The controversy intensified after Steve issued strongly worded statements on his verified X handle, demanding that authorities take immediate action against the former Anambra State governor.
Steve, who openly supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, argued that Obi violated a security directive allegedly proclaimed by Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo.
In one post, Steve claimed he had formally notified the Edo State Government and requested that a petition be forwarded to the Nigeria Police Force for Obi’s “immediate arrest and interrogation.”
He described Obi’s visit as “brazen violation” of what he characterised as a lawful security instruction requiring prior clearance before entry into the state.
The remarks followed reports of a disruption during Obi’s political engagement in Edo, an incident that has already drawn condemnation from several opposition figures and civic groups.
Steve defended the governor’s earlier warning as deliberate and authoritative, insisting that no democratic society can survive when political actors choose which laws to obey.
However, the situation escalated after Steve posted additional comments widely interpreted as threatening, referencing Obi’s possible visit to Rivers State in combative language.
The posts quickly triggered backlash from opposition supporters and civil society observers, who described the rhetoric as reckless and potentially inciting.
Political analysts note that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of movement and association, rights frequently cited during disputes involving inter-state political engagements.
Governor Okpebholo had months earlier warned that Obi’s security could not be guaranteed without formal notification to state authorities, a comment that previously sparked debate about constitutional limits and executive powers.
Obi, who remains a prominent opposition figure after his presidential bid, has continued nationwide consultations and political meetings despite mounting tensions in certain regions.
Beyond security concerns, Steve also criticised Obi’s political trajectory, accusing him of opportunism and contrasting his record with that of Wike, whom he praised for remaining within the Peoples Democratic Party during internal crises.
He concluded his series of posts with prayers for Tinubu, Wike, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Nigeria, while asserting that Obi would not become president.
As outrage spreads online, attention now shifts to security agencies and whether authorities will respond formally to the arrest call and inflammatory remarks.
The unfolding episode underscores Nigeria’s increasingly tense political climate, where social media rhetoric, security directives, and constitutional rights collide in full public view.
