The African Democratic Congress (ADC) says the recent attack on Peter Obi and other party leaders in Benin City may be linked to a warning made earlier by the Edo State governor.
In a statement on Tuesday, the party’s spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, called the attack “serious and worrying.” He said Obi had been warned last year not to visit Edo State.
“Today’s attack on Mr. Peter Obi and other ADC leaders is serious and worrying, especially after last year’s warning from the Governor of Edo State,” the statement said.
The party added that they did not expect the warning to turn into what they called an attempt on Obi’s life. They stressed that violence and threats should have no place in a democratic society.
The ADC said that violence is often used by those who are afraid of the people’s choice, and that threatening others hurts democracy.
Earlier, Yunusa Tanko, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, said that Obi, former APC national chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, and other ADC leaders were attacked by suspected thugs. This happened during the official joining of Olumide Akpata into the party.
Tanko said armed men followed the group from the ADC office to Oyegun’s home. There, they fired guns and damaged several cars.
So far, security agencies and the Edo State government have not made official statements about the attack.
