Former Labour Party presidential candidate and ex-Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, has confirmed he escaped an alleged assassination attempt after gunmen attacked his convoy in Edo State.
The incident occurred on Tuesday at the residence of former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, in Benin City. According to reports, armed assailants opened fire on the property, leaving visible bullet holes on the gate and damaging several vehicles.
Speaking in a video released after the attack, Obi expressed concern over the state of security and democracy in Nigeria.
“This is where our democracy has reached. A former governor, and you can see what happened in front of his house, where hoodlums came shooting,” Obi said.
He further warned against the growing insecurity, stating, “This cannot continue. We have a country, and we are part of it. We cannot have terrorism and have officials in government terrorising the citizens.”
The attack reportedly occurred shortly after Obi, Odigie-Oyegun, and other political stakeholders attended the formal declaration of Barrister Olumide Akpata into the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, alleged that the attackers trailed the political leaders from the ADC Secretariat to Odigie-Oyegun’s residence before launching the assault. He described the incident as a failed assassination attempt, noting that gunmen fired multiple shots and caused extensive damage to official vehicles.
Videos from the scene circulating online show bullet-riddled gates and damaged cars, highlighting the severity of the attack. However, no casualties were reported, and Peter Obi and other political figures escaped unharmed.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about political violence and security in Nigeria, particularly as political activities and realignments intensify across the country.
