Tension rose in Edo State on Tuesday after gunmen attacked venues linked to opposition leaders, including Peter Obi and former Edo governor John Odigie-Oyegun, following a political event in the state capital.
What happened
The leaders had gathered at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secretariat on Ogbelaka Street to receive former Nigerian Bar Association president Olumide Akpata into the party.
Shortly after the event ended, armed men reportedly stormed the secretariat, firing shots and destroying party property, including chairs, canopies and banners. Some attendees were said to have sustained injuries.
The attackers later moved to Odigie-Oyegun’s residence on Reservation Road, where vehicles parked outside were riddled with bullets and the gate damaged.
Obi: “This is where our democracy has reached”
Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, described the attack as alarming and urged authorities to act decisively to prevent further deterioration of security and democratic norms.
Video footage circulating online showed bullet-damaged vehicles and the perforated gate of the residence.
Security alert before attack — Oyegun
Odigie-Oyegun said the gathering had received intelligence from security sources warning of a possible attack.
According to him, the meeting was cut short after the alert, and attendees left shortly before gunmen arrived.
He also questioned the absence of coordinated security protection despite the warning.
ADC alleges political intimidation
Edo ADC chairman Kennedy Odion accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating the attack, claiming thugs stormed the venue minutes after the programme ended.
State government, APC deny involvement
Edo Commissioner for Information Kassim Afegbua rejected the allegations, attributing the violence to internal disputes within the ADC.
The Edo APC chairman also denied involvement, describing the incident as a factional conflict within the opposition party.
Police confirm disruption
The Nigeria Police Force confirmed that suspected hoodlums disrupted the political gathering shortly after it ended.
Police said:
chairs and canopies were damaged,
no fatalities were recorded,
security has been reinforced,
investigations are ongoing.
Armed police personnel were later deployed to both the secretariat and Odigie-Oyegun’s residence.
Political reactions
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar condemned the attack, warning against political violence and inflammatory rhetoric.
Akpata described the incident as a troubling sign for democracy, stressing that opposition politics must be allowed to thrive.
Why this matters
The incident has intensified political tension in Edo State and renewed concerns about:
political violence,
opposition safety,
democratic tolerance,
security preparedness.
Investigations are ongoing, and the full circumstances behind the attack remain unclear.
