Palpable fears pervaded the [political atmosphere in Edo State on Tuesday as suspected political thugs attacked the Benin residence of the National Leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, while playing host to the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/SADR.jpeg")
The attack on Odigie-Oyegun’s residence came minutes after the same suspected thugs attacked the Edo State Secretariat of the ADC, where the LP governorship candidate in the 2024 gubernatorial election, Mr. Olumide Akpata, defected to the ADC.
Chief Odigie-Oyegun, who was visibly shaken by the attack and the magnitude of the damage done to his property and vehicles parked within the residence by Mr. Obi and his entourage, alluded to the 2025 threat issued by Governor Monday Okpebolo of Edo state that Obi must inform the state government anytime he wanted to visit the state or be blamed for whatever consequences the former Anambra State governor might suffer if he failed to heed the security advice.
This was just as Ofigie-Oyegun, the first Executive Governor of Edo State, stated that while at the ADC secretariat to receive Akp[ata into the party, information came that the ADC leaders might be attacked, hence, the ceremony was rushed.
The Edo State Police Command, while confirming the attack on the Edo ADC secretariat, said that “Some plastic chairs and canopies were damaged during the incident. No casualties were reported.”
Speaking with journalists after the attack on his residence, Chief Odigie-Oyegun warned that those behind the attacks were “playing with fire”, warning that “the consequences could be terrible.”
“I am afraid that our leaders, both at the centre and in this state, are playing with fire. The consequences could be terrible. Much more than any of you expect. I will still talk to the media. All I wish to say is that we were holding a meeting, scheduled meeting, everybody informed, duly informed, normal meeting in the premises of the party secretariat today, halfway through the proceedings, we got intel report certainly from one of the security agencies that they have information that the place is going to be attacked, so we should please try to wind up.
“Well, you can’t ignore information. So we cut short, our proceedings finished. And I think we were just barely lucky to have left there in time because thereafter it looks like all hell broke loose. People arrived here in about 10 vehicles shooting all over the place, people injured and so the question is clear between the intel coming and our finishing the making.”, a distraught Odigie-Oyegun explained.
The ADC National Leader expressed shock that the attacks could take place as “There was known cooperation, coordination between the security agencies such that that venue at least will get emergency protection. People were able to come in so many vehicles, shoot their way, break into the building, break the office, property and the rest of it and go away and this is a state where we have a governor and where we are supposed to have the first duty of any government is to protect us.”
On the sporadic gunshots at his residence, the former governor said: “They came here. I don’t know if it is a very interesting thing, but we had a guest, of course. The former governor of Anambra and one of the prominent leaders of the ADC. From all indications, an aspirant. So whether that was what attracted the attack on my premises and my property because the government here had threatened that if he (Obi) came to Edo State without permission, his security cannot be guaranteed.
“He was paying a courtesy visit to me and bullets started raining all over the place in my state where I was governor. Edo State! When did we degenerate to that kind of level? So I am still putting my thoughts together. But these are very dangerous, but not good for anyone.” Odigie-Oyegun further lamented.
Edo State ADC Chairman, Kennedy Odion, said that the attackers “injured three persons. Every other person was still at the venue. After they scattered the place, they came to Chief Oyegun house where we were having another meeting. All the vehicles parked outside were destroyed.
“We have reported the matter and the Commissioner of Police, who came to see the level of damage that has been done, assured they will investigate. I told him not to allow this attack slide. Three persons were injured. The vehicles destroyed were many.” Odion stated
Reacting to the development, Edo State APC Chairman, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, said what happened was as a result of factions within the Edo ADC.
“Did the attackers wear APC uniforms? What is happening in ADC is a factional fight. You saw Owie fighting Oyegun. They should not drag us into their fight.” Tenebe cautioned.
Eno Ikoedem, the Edo State Police Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), while confirming the attack on the Edo ADC secretariat, said: “On 24 February 2026 at about 2:55 p.m., a political gathering was held at the ADC State Secretariat located on Ogbelaka Street, off Sapele Road, Benin City, to welcome new members who defected from the Labour Party.
“Shortly after the event concluded, a group of suspected hoodlums disrupted the premises and chased attendees away. Personnel of the Command responded swiftly to the distress call, prompting the suspects to flee the scene. Some plastic chairs and canopies were damaged during the incident. No casualties were reported.
“Security has since been reinforced around the premises, and normalcy has been fully restored. The situation remains under control while investigations are ongoing to arrest the perpetrators of this crime.” She reassured.
The presidential candidate of the LP in the 2023 presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi, had earlier on Tuesday visited Edo State in apparent deviance to the order of Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State not to visit the state without a clearance from the Government House.
The former LP chieftain, who is now a presidential hopeful in the coalition ADC, it would be recalled, had made a similar visit to Edo State in 2025, which did not sit well with Governor Okpebholo, who later asked that the politician should inform the government anytime he wanted to visit the state.
Okpebholo, had, while giving the caution, hinged his stance on the security risk Obi’s presence could pose and the need for the state government to be informed ahead to put measures in place for security and safety of the former Anambra State governor, warning that Obi would be blame for whatever consequences he suffered if he failed to follow the protocol expected of a politically exposed personality of his ranking.
The governor’s position attracted public reactions with many arguing that Okpebholo overreached himself.
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