Tension and concern swept through Edo State after a violent disruption at a political gathering left many shaken and raised fresh fears about rising political hostility.
Governor Monday Okpebholo expressed sadness and frustration over the attack on members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing it as a troubling development that should never have happened in a state known for its calm political climate.
The incident reportedly occurred during an event organised to welcome Olumide Akpata into the ADC. Eyewitness accounts said suspected thugs stormed the venue, assaulted supporters, vandalised the party secretariat, and allegedly attacked the residence of former governor John Odigie-Oyegun.
Clearly disturbed by the development, Okpebholo sympathised with those affected and warned that Edo must not be turned into a battlefield for political rivalry. He insisted that politics should be about ideas, service, and earning the people’s trust — not intimidation or violence.
The ADC, however, painted a more alarming picture. The party described the incident as a gun attack and an assassination attempt targeting Oyegun, party leader Peter Obi, and Akpata. In a strongly worded statement, its spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of fostering a climate of fear and hostility toward opposition figures.
According to the party, the attack was not an isolated case but part of what it sees as a pattern of intimidation. It warned that continued threats and inflammatory remarks could further inflame tensions, stressing that democracy cannot thrive where fear replaces free political engagement.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan also voiced deep concern, describing the alleged assassination attempt as disturbing and unacceptable. She cautioned that Nigeria’s democracy must not be allowed to slide into violence driven by political competition. For her, any attack on political actors is an attack on democratic freedoms themselves.
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) echoed similar sentiments, calling the incident a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic stability. The council urged President Bola Tinubu to rise above party lines and ensure that security agencies investigate the matter thoroughly and bring perpetrators to justice.
Adding his voice, Ken Imansuangbon, a former Labour Party governorship aspirant in Edo who is now with the ADC, appealed for restraint as the 2027 general elections approach. He warned that Edo’s reputation and peace must not be sacrificed on the altar of political rivalry.
Across party lines, one message stood out clearly: political disagreements must never be settled with violence.
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