Gunmen attack Peter Obi, ADC chieftains in Benin City

Nigeria’s political climate is heating up ahead of the 2027 general election, as the former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, and senior leaders of the African Democratic Congress came under attack by armed men in Benin City, the capital of Edo State.

An aide to Obi and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, in a terse statement on Tuesday, said that his principal and ADC bigwigs were under siege as they were attacked by an armed group in Benin City on Tuesday afternoon.

According to him, they were attacked at the formal declaration of Olumide Akpata to ADC when armed individuals followed the group from the ADC Secretariat to the residence of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, former National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, before he ditched the party.

“They shot at the gate and destroyed several vehicles in what appears to be a successful assassination attempt on our lives.

Democracy is in danger,” Tanko lamented.

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Eyewitnesses said the armed men arrived in several vehicles and opened fire sporadically, creating panic among supporters gathered for the event. Many attendees reportedly fled the scene to avoid harm, while security personnel struggled to maintain control.

A source within the ADC confirmed that no one was seriously injured, but several vehicles were damaged in the attack, including those belonging to Peter Obi’s entourage and party officials.

The Edo State Police Command has deployed additional officers to the area and is currently investigating the incident. Authorities urged members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with security personnel.

Political observers have warned that such attacks risk escalating tensions in the lead-up to the 2027 elections and have called on both government and security agencies to ensure the safety of opposition leaders and preserve democratic processes.

Supporters of Peter Obi and ADC officials have condemned the attack, calling it an attempt to intimidate opposition voices ahead of the 2027 elections. Many took to social media to demand justice and urged security agencies to hold the perpetrators accountable.