The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Obidient Movement have vehemently condemned a recent gun attack and alleged assassination attempt in Edo State, Nigeria. This incident, which targeted prominent opposition figures including former Governor John Oyegun, ADC national leader Peter Obi, and Olumide Akpata (the Labour Party candidate for Edo State who recently joined the ADC), has been described as a dangerous assault on democracy and a troubling pattern of political intimidation. The ADC went as far as to brand the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) a “terrorist organization” following the events.

The coordinated and violent attack occurred on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, in Benin City, Edo State. According to reports from the Obidient Movement and the ADC, armed assailants first invaded the ADC secretariat on Ogbelaka Street shortly after a party rally. Subsequently, they trailed the convoy of ADC leaders to the private residence of Chief Odigie-Oyegun, where they opened sporadic gunfire on vehicles and the property. Bullet-riddled vehicles and expended cartridges recovered at the scene confirmed the severity and intent of the assault, with several persons sustaining injuries. Olumide Akpata disclosed that both he and Peter Obi had independently received intelligence from reliable sources warning of an impending attack at their meeting venue, prompting heightened security measures that ultimately helped avert a more dire outcome.

The ADC and the Obidient Movement highlighted that this attack did not occur in a vacuum. They pointed to previous inflammatory rhetoric and threats, notably from Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo. The governor, an APC member, had publicly stated on July 18, 2025 (or July 2025), that he would not guarantee Peter Obi’s security if he visited the state without prior clearance. His exact words included: “This message is for the man who claims he has no ‘shishi’... His security will not be guaranteed. If anything happens to him here, he will have himself to blame. I’m not joking.” The opposition parties assert that this threat was visibly translated into bullets, making the connection between the rhetoric and the violence undeniable.

Beyond the threats concerning Obi's safety, Governor Okpebholo has also been accused by the ADC of making “ridiculous and irresponsible claims” that the ADC sponsors cultism in Edo State. Furthermore, he allegedly threatened to start demolishing properties belonging to opposition members in the state. The governor had also questioned the source of a reported N15 million donation by Obi during a previous visit, claiming unrest allegedly followed that visit, leading to three persons reportedly losing their lives.

The ADC firmly asserted that “Nigeria is not a private estate” and “Edo State is not the personal property of any party or any governor.” They stressed that no elected official possesses the constitutional authority to threaten, harass, or endanger law-abiding political actors exercising their democratic rights, and their members have constitutional rights to freedom of speech, assembly, and lawful self-defence. The party warned that if any harm comes to its leaders, members, or supporters due to this “escalating climate of official hostility, intimidation, or incitement,” responsibility would rest squarely with those who chose provocation. In response, the ADC is compiling all cases of what it terms “acts of terrorism by the ruling APC” and plans to make its reports available to diplomatic missions and the ECOWAS Court of Human Rights. Despite the situation, the ADC affirmed it “will not bow to terror” and urged its members nationwide to remain vigilant, calm, and continue their lawful political activities without fear.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, also condemned the attack as a dangerous assault on democracy. She expressed concern over “overzealous political actors” attempting to impress powerful figures by targeting opposition members, deeming such actions “reckless, counterproductive, and dangerous to our national unity.” The Senator emphasized that democracy thrives on healthy competition and the protection of dissenting voices, and opposition figures have a constitutional right to organize and mobilize freely. She called upon security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged assassination attempt and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice, reiterating that “Nigeria must remain a nation where political differences are resolved through dialogue and the ballot, not through violence.” This incident is widely seen as part of a wider pattern of intimidation and violence directed at opposition leaders and party structures across the country, where politics has seemingly regressed from mere rhetoric to actual violence and threats to life.