Peter Obi and Others Escape Attack in Benin City

The motorcade of 2027 presidential aspirant Peter Obi, along with other African Democratic Party (ADC) leaders including former Edo governor John Odigie-Oyegun, was shot at in Benin City, Edo State, during an event welcoming Olumide Akpata into the ADC. Olumide Akpata, a former Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, stated that the attack occurred after they left the ADC Secretariat and were at Chief John Oyegun's house, resulting in damaged vehicles and injuries to some attendees.

Key points

• The attack occurred during the formal declaration of Olumide Akpata into the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
• Akpata received intelligence that the ADC Secretariat would be attacked, leading to an attempt to speed up the event.
• The shooting was described as a 'double drive by' near Chief Oyegun's house, forcing security personnel to push the group inside.
• Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu, ADC deputy governorship candidate in Anambra, called on President Bola Tinubu to condemn the violence.
• One of Akpata's cousins sustained an injury, having a bottle smashed on her head.

Why it matters

The incident involved a prominent political figure, Peter Obi, and has raised concerns about political intimidation and the safety of opposition parties operating in Nigeria, with calls for the federal government to condemn the violence.