Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and several chieftains of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were reportedly attacked by armed individuals in Benin City, Edo State, on Tuesday. The incident, which unfolded at two separate locations, has been described as a "siege" and an "assassination attempt" by Yunusa Tanko, the national coordinator of the Obidient movement.

Obi was in Benin for a political gathering centered around the formal declaration of Olumide Akpata, the 2023 LP governorship candidate for Edo, into the African Democratic Congress. The event commenced at the ADC secretariat, where an unexpectedly large crowd gathered, despite what activist Oruche Ogeamara Precious (Mama Pee) described as minimal publicity, a factor she suggested angered the attackers.

According to accounts from Yunusa Tanko and Val Obienyem, Obi's media aide, armed individuals trailed Obi and the ADC leaders from the party's secretariat to the residence of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, a prominent chieftain of the party and former governor of the state. It was at Odigie-Oyegun's residence that the attack intensified, with gunmen reportedly shooting at the gate and destroying several vehicles. Val Obienyem specifically stated that the hoodlums "specifically chased the vehicle carrying Mr. Peter Obi to Chief John Onyegun’s house and continued their attack."

Peter Obi, who was whisked to safety and later confirmed unharmed by his aide, condemned the violence. "This is the residence of a former governor of this state and you can see what happened in front of his house where hoodlums came, shooting," Obi remarked, pointing to bullet signs on the gates and damaged cars. He labeled the incident "totally unacceptable," asserting that such acts undermine democracy and stating that the incident would be reported to the appropriate authorities. He further speculated that opponents, fearing a loss in 2027, "don't want peace."

Tragically, the attack resulted in casualties. Yunusa Tanko reported that one person was shot twice in the head, and another man was shot in the neck, both of whom were subsequently taken to the hospital. Mama Pee, in a viral video, detailed how attackers arrived on motorcycles at Odigie-Oyegun's residence, opened fire, and caused panic, also questioning the proximity of the Nigerian police. She alleged that the attack at the ADC office occurred moments after Obi left and security presence reduced.

The Obidient Movement and ADC supporters swiftly accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of sponsoring the armed thugs. Yunusa Tanko's "Breaking Red Alert in Benin, Edo State" statement explicitly stated, "Democracy is in danger." Fortunately, the attackers reportedly fled when operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) began to retaliate.