The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested a man suspected of masterminding the recent attack on the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
Obi, alongside former Edo State governor John Oyegun and several chieftains and members of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), was attacked on February 24 by armed men who fired multiple gunshots shortly after a party meeting in the state.
Following the incident, one Udeme Monday Stephen allegedly posted on his X handle, @stevetom788, threatening further attacks on Obi.
The attack reportedly occurred after party leaders returned from the ADC secretariat, where they formally received former Labour Party governorship candidate Olumide Akpata into the ADC.
Condemning the attack, Obi who is also a chieftain of the ADC vowed that the matter would be formally reported to the authorities.
“We will make a formal complaint, and I assure you that this cannot continue,” Obi told party members in Benin City.
“We have a country, and we are part of it. We cannot have terrorism terrorising the country and government officials terrorising citizens. It is unacceptable,” he added.
Similarly, the leadership of the ADC said it would neither bow nor retreat in the face of intimidation.
“Let it be clearly understood: violence and intimidation are the weapons of those who fear the will of the people. Such actions stain our democracy and must be condemned by all who believe in freedom,” the party’s spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, said in a statement on Tuesday.
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo also condemned the attack on ADC members.
In a statement, the governor described the incident as an internal party crisis that escalated beyond control. While sympathising with the affected members, he said it was unfortunate that certain elements allegedly exploited the peaceful atmosphere of the state to perpetrate violence.
“As peace-loving people, the importation of thugs and miscreants from outside the state under the guise of party politics remains totally condemned and will not be tolerated going forward,” he said.
