The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, were reportedly attacked in an alleged assassination attempt in Benin City, Edo State, on Tuesday.

The incident was said to have occurred at the residence of Odigie-Oyegun shortly after a political event in the state capital.A video circulating online captures the aftermath of the incident, showing several vehicles and the estate gate riddled with bullet holes. Speaking in the footage, Peter Obi said the attack occurred shortly after they left the African Democratic Congress (ADC) headquarters in the state.

He referred to the attack as an act of political terrorism which should have no place in the nation’s democracy, decrying the fact that such a brazen attack should be targeted anybody, not to talk of at the home of Chief Odigie-Oyegun, a former Governor of the state.

Also, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, said the attackers followed the group from the ADC Secretariat to Odigie-Oyegun’s residence, where they opened fire at the gate and riddled several official vehicles with bullets.

He described the incident as a suspected failed assassination attempt targeting members of the party’s leadership.

“The leadership of the ADC is under siege and attack in Benin, Edo State. Armed individuals followed us from the ADC Secretariat to the residence of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and shot at the gate, destroying several vehicles,” he said.

As at press time, there had not been any statements from the Edo state government, the Police or other security agencies regarding the attack.

It will be recalled that the Edo state governor, Monday Okpebholo, had, some time ago threatened that the security of Mr. Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State could not be guaranteed if he came into the state without notifying him.