The Attack On Peter Obi And The Crack Down On Opposition -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

In my essay on the need for Nigerians to unite to back the opposition to chase out the moribund APC regime, I had predicted that the APC might resort to physical violence in its desperate attempt to intimidate and destroy opposition and maintain its vise grip to power as the race to 2027 election begins. Ordinarily, one should feel proud when his predictions come true but in this case I feel very bad about it all. Under the regime of the All Progressives Congress a lot of hideous things are happening in our country. Violence has become a way of life; abnormality has become commonplace.

According to press report, on Tuesday the 24th day of February 2026, Obi in company of the chieftains of the All Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftains, including Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, a one-time governor of Edo State and former Chairman of the APC had gathered in the ADC state secretariat at Ogbelaka Street to receive some members of the Labor Party who had gathered for a formal defection ceremony into the ADC. And soon after the event scheduled for 11: 00 a.m began, they got intelligent report that the venue was about to be attacked.

Following this development, they decided to speed up the ceremony and move to Chief Oyegun house to avert danger. But shortly after they left, the ADC secretariat actually came under attack by hoodlums wielding dangerous weapons that left many wounded and properties at the venue destroyed.

While no fatalities were officially reported, the incident has ignited a political firestorm as expected with many pointing accusing finger at the ruling APC that has not hidden its sinister intention to annihilate the opposition, turn the country to a one-party state and maintain their strangle hold on power.

Not even the directive from the Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo who had earlier blamed the attack on factions within the ADC group, re-enforcing the allegation that the governor and the members of the APC are privy to the attack, to the police to investigate the attack could convince the observers that the APC gang are not behind the dastardly act. Recall that sometime last year, the same Edo State governor had warned Mr. Peter Obi, who was the Labor Party standard bearer in the last presidential not to ever enter Edo State without his permission, stating that he cannot guarantee his security if he does. Thus, it would not be wrong to assert that the governor who is fanatical about pleasing Tinubu could have been the brain behind the attack unless the investigation proves otherwise.

His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, GCON, the Wazirin Adamawa and a chieftain of the ADC condemned the attack in strong terms, stating that the attack has become a pattern of intimidation against the opposition. The former vice-president of the country (1999-2007) and the former presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party who picked Mr. Peter Obi as his running mate in 2019 warns that attacks on opposition figures threaten Nigeria’s fragile democratic architecture and could erode public trust in the 2027 electoral process if left unchecked. In his reaction, Chieftain Dumebi Okonkwo, another ADC party bigwig described the incident as nothing short of an “attempted assassination” and “political genocide,” alleging that the attack was orchestrated to silence dissenting voices ahead of future electoral contests.

While Nigerians are worried about the ugly incidence and the heightened tension in the polity, the silence from the APC-controlled government and the claim in some quarters that the incidence is exaggerated and politically motivated is suspicious. There are pertinent questions that must be answered at this juncture. Who organized the attack? Was this an isolated incident or deliberate attempt to intimidate the opposition? What is the implication of this incidence?

The attack on Mr. Peter Obi and the ADC party chieftains in Benin City, Edo State is condemnable and portends grave danger to our democracy and our nation. Nigerians, and civil society groups should rise in unison to condemn this dastardly attack and insist on thorough investigation into the matter. It should not be swept under the carpet as is always the case. If this case is suppressed, it could degenerate into bigger violence as the match to another election circle in 2027 progresses. If this matter is not treated conclusively it would certainly snowball into bigger political crisis. In this regard, I want to use this opportunity to appeal to our youths not to allow themselves to be used by the selfish politicians to perpetuate crisis in the country. Nigerians should say no to violence; no to hooliganism and political thuggery! We must unite to take back our country and build the future that we desire for us and our children.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed
hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com
An actress, social activist, politician
London, UK