BENIN CITY, EDO STATE
— Political tensions in Nigeria reached a boiling point on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, as the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and top chieftains of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) narrowly escaped what has been described as a targeted assassination attempt in Benin City. The attack occurred at the private residence of the former Governor of Edo State and erstwhile National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, shortly after a high-profile political gathering.The Ambush and Siege The incident followed the formal declaration of Barrister Olumide Akpata, the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), into the African Democratic Congress. According to Dr. Yunusa Tanko, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, the delegation was trailed by "armed hoodlums" immediately after leaving the ADC Secretariat in the state capital.
The assailants reportedly followed the convoy to the Government Reservation Area (GRA) residence of Chief Odigie-Oyegun. Upon arrival at the gate, the gunmen opened fire, riddling the estate entrance and several official vehicles with bullets. Footage circulating on social media shows the aftermath of the violence, with shattered windscreens of high-end SUVs and visible bullet holes on the reinforced gates of the former governor's compound.
"Democracy is Under Siege" Speaking in a video recorded moments after the gunmen retreated, a visibly shaken but defiant Peter Obi pointed to the damage, stating, "This is where our democracy has reached. A former governor, and you can see what happened in front of his house... I assure you this cannot continue." Dr. Tanko echoed these sentiments in a statement issued from Abuja, declaring that "the leadership of the ADC is under siege." He noted that the attackers seemed professional and calculated, suggesting that the incident was a survived assassination attempt rather than random thuggery. While some injuries were reported among the security details and supporters, Peter Obi, John Odigie-Oyegun, and other senior leaders escaped without physical harm.
A History of Threats This attack comes exactly seven months after a controversial public warning by the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo. In July 2025, Governor Okpebholo had cautioned Peter Obi against entering Edo State without prior security clearance from his office, declaring that "a new Sheriff is in town." At the time, human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) had called for the withdrawal of what he described as a "death threat." The occurrence of today's shooting has reignited fears that political opposition is being met with state-tolerated or orchestrated violence.
As of Tuesday evening, the Nigeria Police Force has reportedly deployed a unit to the scene, but no arrests have been made. The Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu—who was only just confirmed today following the resignation of Kayode Egbetokun—now faces his first major political crisis.
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