The youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, has strongly condemned the threat issued by Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo against former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.
The group demanded immediate intervention from the Nigerian presidency and called for visa sanctions from the United States and the United Kingdom on the governor.
Governor Okpebholo had on Friday warned that Peter Obi must not enter Edo State without his approval, stating that Obi should “be prepared to face whatever he finds” in the state if he disregards this directive. This threat has sparked widespread reactions across Nigeria.
In a statement titled “An Urgent Call for Action,” National President of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, described the governor’s remarks as an “assassination threat” against Obi. He expressed shock that a sitting governor and former parliamentarian could use such intimidating language against a fellow Nigerian.
Nnabuike urged Nigeria’s security agencies to guarantee the safety of Peter Obi and all citizens, irrespective of political affiliations, emphasizing that such threats are “utterly debasing” and “reprehensible” from an elected leader. He declared, “If anything happens to Mr Peter Obi, the entire world knows who to hold responsible.”
The youth leader called on President Bola Tinubu’s government to publicly condemn Governor Okpebholo and bring him to order, stressing that the president’s character is inconsistent with condoning such behavior. He linked Okpebholo’s threat to a prior similar warning from Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia and expressed concern over escalating provocative statements from APC governors.
Furthermore, Nnabuike appealed to international partners, notably the United States and the United Kingdom, to impose immediate visa bans on Governor Okpebholo to deter future threats capable of undermining Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections. He stated, “He has given himself out as an undemocratic element, one who is not ready to allow dissenting voices,” and noted that threats like this are not just against Peter Obi but the entire Igbo race.
This condemnation aligns with reactions from other Nigerian political actors and groups who assert that the governor’s statement violates constitutional rights to free movement and security. The Labour Party Senate caucus has also called for Okpebholo to retract his remarks and apologise, while legal experts stress that governors cannot legally restrict a citizen’s movement without lawful backing.
Governor Okpebholo had linked Obi’s last visit to Edo—with a donation of 15 million naira to a nursing school—to subsequent violence resulting in deaths, further escalating tensions. The situation continues to attract national and international attention amid calls for accountability and protection of democratic rights.
