An Edo State government official has sparked outrage by suggesting that former presidential candidate Peter Obi should have informed authorities before visiting the state, where he and other political leaders were attacked by gunmen on Tuesday.
Information Commissioner Kassim Afegbua made the remarks on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” program on Wednesday, framing the violence as an internal party matter and placing responsibility on the victim rather than the perpetrators.
“People misinterpreted what Governor Okpebholo meant when he made the statement in July last year, to the extent that anytime Peter Obi wants to come to Edo, he should please inform the state government,” Afegbua said.
“But because Obi is a politically exposed person, we would expect that he would extend the courtesy of informing the government of the day.”
‘A Problem to the Politics of Edo’
Afegbua went further, labeling the former Anambra governor a destabilizing figure whose presence invites crisis.
“Don’t forget that Peter Obi came the first time to Edo and there was a crisis. He came second time, there was crisis,” the commissioner said.
He characterized Obi’s political journey as one of unresolved conflicts exported from party to party — first Labour Party, now the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“Peter Obi is a problem to the politics of Edo because any party he belongs to is crisis,” Afegbua added.
The commissioner attributed Tuesday’s attack not to government actors but to internal ADC disputes. “What happened in Edo should be located within the ambit of the ADC — one factional group of the ADC versus another faction of the ADC,” he insisted.
The Video That Resurfaced
Afegbua’s comments come amid renewed scrutiny of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s own words. A 58-second video recorded July 18, 2025, has circulated widely online, showing the governor issuing what many now view as a chilling warning.
“The man wey say he no get shishi, I am sending a direct message to him, there is a new sheriff in town. He cannot come to Edo State without telling me because his security will not be guaranteed,” Okpebholo said in the clip, speaking in Uromi.
“Whatever happens to him in Edo State, he will take it. I am serious about this”.
The video’s resurfacing following Tuesday’s attack has fueled accusations of government complicity — claims the administration vehemently denies.
The Attack
On Tuesday, Obi, former Edo Governor John Odigie-Oyegun, and other ADC leaders were targeted by gunmen at Odigie-Oyegun’s Benin City residence. Video footage shows bullet holes in windscreens and damage to the property’s gate.
Obi had visited the state to donate N15 million to St. Philomena College of Nursing Sciences — a humanitarian act he said reflected his long-standing commitment to healthcare, not politics. When asked if he sought the governor’s permission for the visit, he declined to comment.
Government’s Defense
While Afegbua’s comments have drawn sharp criticism, other officials have sought to distance the administration from the attack.
House of Representatives member Billy Famous Osawaru dismissed allegations of government involvement as “malicious, false and politically motivated”.
“It is malicious and false to claim or even allege that Peter Obi and members of his political camp were attacked by Edo State government officials or thugs sponsored by the Governor or any of his officials,” Osawaru said.
He called for a “thorough and impartial investigation” and urged all parties to refrain from statements that could prejudice the outcome.
The Opposition’s Response
The ADC has rejected the internal-dispute narrative, describing the attack as part of “a dangerous and escalating pattern of political intimidation and terror”.
ADC chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo directly accused the government. “The attack on Peter Obi in Edo State was an attempted assassination by the government or their agents,” he told Arise Television.
He referenced Governor Okpebholo’s earlier threat as evidence: “Recall a previous threat issued by the current Edo State Governor, who warned Peter Obi against entering the state without his clearance, stating his security would not be guaranteed”.
The ADC has announced it is compiling all acts of terrorism against its members and will report them to diplomatic missions and the ECOWAS Court of Human Rights.
The Wike Factor
Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has weighed in on the controversy, backing Governor Okpebholo’s position on security protocols for high-profile visitors. Wike’s support suggests the issue has become a flashpoint in broader political alignments ahead of 2027.
What Comes Next
Afegbua’s comments have placed the Edo State Government on the defensive, with critics accusing it of victim-blaming rather than condemning political violence. The commissioner’s framing of Obi as a “problem” who brings crisis wherever he goes has only deepened the controversy.
For Obi, the attack and its aftermath reinforce a troubling narrative: that opposition figures cannot move freely without fear — and that when violence occurs, the government’s first instinct may be to blame the victim rather than find the shooters.
The bullets have been fired. The videos have circulated. The accusations have flown. What remains missing is what Osawaru called for — a thorough, impartial investigation that identifies who attacked Peter Obi and why.
Until that happens, the question hanging over Edo State is whether the government’s words are meant to calm the situation — or deflect from it.
