Actor and member of the National Working Committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has said the recent attack on former presidential candidate Peter Obi and other party leaders in Edo State was an attempt on their lives by the government or its agents.
The incident happened on Tuesday in Benin City while Obi and ADC leaders were returning from an event welcoming Olumide Akpata, former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, into the party. Witnesses said armed men fired gunshots at the group and damaged vehicles. Obi and others escaped without confirmed fatalities.
Okonkwo spoke about the attack during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time. He said the assault was linked to a past warning from Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, who had warned Obi against entering the state without his clearance.
Okonkwo said, “The attack on Peter Obi in Edo State was an attempted assassination by the government or their agents. I was in touch with the former Edo State Governor, John Odigie Oyegun, who detailed the alleged assassination attempt. This incident is attributed to either government entities or their agents. Recall a previous threat issued by the current Edo State Governor, who warned Peter Obi against entering the state without his clearance, stating his security would not be guaranteed. This past threat was discussed on air as a danger to opposition leaders. The recent events transpired as individuals gathered to welcome Olumide Akpata, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), an organization now seemingly under attack. The welcoming party encountered a convoy of ten vehicles, led by a pilot vehicle.”
He added, “This government has started trying to do genocide against political parties. You must have heard when they said that it’s like we are tilting towards a one-party state, and this was orchestrated by APC to ensure there is no other party.”
The ADC condemned the attack as a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy. Mr Okpebholo denied directing any state agency to attack political figures and said the violence appeared linked to internal disputes within the ADC.
Former Edo State governor John Odigie-Oyegun said he and Obi escaped after a security alert prompted them to end the event early.
Police and security agencies have yet to release details on suspects or motives.
