The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly condemned the restriction order issued by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, barring Peter Obi from entering the state.
The governor declared Edo a no-go zone for Obi, who planned to visit as part of his 64th birthday celebrations over the weekend.
The aborted visit was organized by the Obidient Movement, a group of Obi’s supporters based in Edo. In response, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) reminded the governor that Edo State does not belong to him alone and criticized such unconstitutional bans as a troubling pattern among APC governors.
At a Saturday media briefing, ADC spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi decried the APC’s growing trend of restricting opposition leaders’ movements. Abdullahi reiterated that Nigeria is a free country where every citizen has the right to travel anywhere without needing permission or “visas” from state governors.
He said, “It is becoming a pattern for APC governors to issue pronouncements like Governor Okpebholo’s that declare opposition leaders unwelcome. This is not democratic, it is dangerous, and it reeks of authoritarianism. Such statements are more suited to monarchs than democratic leaders and must be nipped in the bud.”
Abdullahi expressed concern that an elected governor would issue such an order before the start of critical political activities. “States belong to the Nigerian people, not the politicians who govern them,” he insisted, warning the international community to take note of these developments.
Highlighting the motivation behind the ban, he said, “Having failed to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, the APC now resorts to intimidation and threats to exclude other political voices from parts of the country. This is unacceptable. We will exercise our right to move freely in Nigeria.”
When asked about potential conflicts between Peter Obi and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar over the ADC’s 2027 presidential ticket, Abdullahi dismissed speculation of clashes. He clarified that neither Obi nor Atiku had made exclusive claims to the ticket, noting that any infighting arises from supporters rather than the aspirants themselves.
The ADC spokesman explained, “We have no predetermined favorite candidate. We will ensure a transparent, level playing field for all aspirants within our party. Anyone wishing to support a candidate should obtain an ADC membership card to participate in the primaries.”
Addressing rumors of legal challenges related to a takeover of the ADC coalition, Abdullahi stated he was unaware of any court actions. He acknowledged reports from some quarters but stressed, “We are confident we stand on solid legal ground. This was a carefully planned process to avoid giving the ruling party any chance to destabilize us, as it has done to other opposition parties.”
Finally, Abdullahi reaffirmed the coalition leaders’ commitment to the ADC. He noted that some key figures, such as Peter Obi and former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, have yet to formally join the party as they await the outcome of upcoming off-season elections in their current parties.
This strong statement by the ADC underscores rising tensions in Nigerian politics and raises fresh concerns about democratic freedoms in the face of increasing authoritarian tactics.
