The Edo State Government has attributed the attack on presidential aspirant Peter Obi in Benin City to internal crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Appearing on Arise News on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Kassim Afegbua, dismissed claims of a state-sponsored assassination attempt, characterizing the violence as a spillover of intra-party disagreements.
According to Afegbua, the unrest was triggered when certain ADC members were barred from a crucial meeting at the residence of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, leading to a “frustrated” reaction from the excluded faction. “The unrest stemmed from disagreements among party members… preliminary details suggest the episode was driven by internal dissatisfaction rather than a coordinated external attack,” the Commissioner explained.
Afegbua further detailed that tensions within the ADC had been escalating since Monday and reached a breaking point on Tuesday when the group’s leadership reportedly shut the gates to exclude a faction led by former Senate Chief Whip Roland Owie. He noted that video footage from the scene reflected “visible frustration and discord” among the party’s rank and file, suggesting that the situation intensified specifically when it became clear that Peter Obi was attending to facilitate a planned defection.
“If Peter Obi had informed the governor that he was coming, what happened today would not have happened. The governor would have provided security,” Afegbua added, referencing a 2025 advisory where Governor Monday Okpebholo warned that Obi must notify the state of his visits to guarantee his safety.
While the state government maintains that the incident was a purely internal matter, opposition figures have rejected this narrative. Dr. Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, described the assault at Chief Odigie-Oyegun’s home as a “clear assassination attempt,” alleging that gunmen trailed the convoy from the ADC Secretariat specifically to target the leadership.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also condemned the attack, warning that “politics must not be settled by violence.” Despite the differing accounts, the Edo State Police Command has launched a full-scale investigation into the gunfire and the destruction of properties at both the secretariat and the private residence, with security personnel remaining on high alert across Benin City to prevent further disturbances.
