A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), High Chief Anayo Arinze, has condemned the alleged attack on the party’s presidential hopeful, Peter Gregory Obi, and other coalition leaders in Benin City, describing the incident as a dangerous return to political thuggery.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday Arinze, who identified himself as Eko Awka II/Onowu Ndigbo Lugbe and founding member of the party, said he received news of the incident in Edo State “with rude shock,” noting that many Nigerians believed the era of political hooliganism was over.
He alleged that the attack, reportedly carried out by yet-to-be-identified hoodlums during an ADC function, signaled a disturbing trend ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Arinze also referenced a previous warning allegedly issued by the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, to Obi regarding visits to the state, claiming the recent development raises serious concerns.
“It would be dangerous to sweep this act of political hooliganism under the carpet,” Arinze said, calling on security agencies to investigate the incident and bring perpetrators to justice.
He urged the Inspector General of Police, the Department of State Services, and other security operatives to unravel the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack.
The ADC chieftain warned against actions capable of undermining Nigeria’s democracy, stressing that leadership in a democratic system must be derived from the will of the electorate.
Arinze further described the ADC coalition as a movement aimed at addressing governance concerns under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, adding that any attack on its leaders should be viewed seriously.
As of press time, there was no official statement from the Edo State Government or security authorities regarding the alleged incident.