By Ayo Kehinde
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi escaped a suspected assassination attempt on Tuesday after gunmen opened fire during a political gathering involving leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Benin City, Edo State.
The incident has sparked widespread panic and heightened political tensions as Nigeria moves toward the 2027 general elections.
The attack took place during activities linked to the formal entry of Barrister Olumide Akpata into the ADC, causing chaos as supporters and residents fled following sporadic gunfire by unidentified assailants.
Eyewitness accounts and social media footage suggest that armed individuals trailed members of the entourage from the ADC secretariat to the residence of former Edo State Governor John Odigie-Oyegun, where the violence intensified.
Yunusa Tanko, the interim National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, confirmed the assault on his X handle, describing it as a coordinated ambush.
“PO and the leadership of the ADC are under siege and attack in Benin, Edo State,” Tanko wrote, noting that armed men shot at the gate of the residence and damaged several vehicles in what he termed a “survived assassination attempt.”
Eyewitnesses reported that suspected hoodlums stormed the venue and began shooting indiscriminately, pursuing vehicles conveying Obi and other party leaders.
This forced supporters to disperse in confusion. While there was initial uncertainty regarding Obi’s safety, his media adviser, Valentine Obienyem, later confirmed that the former Anambra State governor escaped the scene unharmed.
Sources indicated that some individuals sustained injuries during the fracas and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, though the exact number of victims remains unconfirmed.
As of Tuesday evening, security agencies had not issued an official statement regarding arrests or the identity of the attackers, though police personnel were deployed to the scene shortly after the incident.
This violence follows a public warning issued months earlier by Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, who cautioned Obi against visiting the state without prior notification.
In July 2025, while receiving defectors into the ruling party, the governor declared that Obi should not enter Edo without informing him, citing security concerns linked to a previous visit by the opposition leader.
The incident also unfolded against the backdrop of internal disputes within the Edo State chapter of the ADC.
Party leaders, including founding members and stakeholders, were reportedly shut out of a scheduled meeting at the Odigie-Oyegun residence, triggering protests at the venue.
Aggrieved members accused the former governor of sidelining statutory party stakeholders, leading to tensions that required police intervention before the situation was brought under control.
Speaking to journalists, some party chieftains such Senator Rowland Owie called on the national leadership of the ADC to intervene, alleging exclusion and internal marginalization within the state structure.
