By Sunny A. David
The Labour Party (LP) Caucus in the House of Representatives has strongly condemned recent threats against its Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, by the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, describing the comments as “outrageous, unconstitutional, and unbecoming of a public officer.”
Governor Okpebholo, speaking at a public event on Friday, July 18, warned that Obi must not enter Edo State without prior approval and security clearance. He also linked the LP leader to an alleged violent incident, questioning the source of a ₦15 million donation attributed to Obi.
Reacting to the remarks, the LP Caucus, in a statement signed by its leader, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, decried the governor’s conduct, insisting that Peter Obi like any Nigerian has a constitutional right to move freely across the country without fear of intimidation or harm.
“It is deeply alarming that a sitting Governor, who is also the chief security officer of his State, would make such inflammatory and reckless statements in public,” the statement read. “Peter Obi’s philanthropic and development focused initiatives across the country should be applauded, not vilified.”
The lawmakers described the governor’s comments as a dangerous display of intolerance and a threat to Nigeria’s democratic values.
Hon. Ogene noted that Governor Okpebholo’s remarks were made during the defection ceremony of Hon. Marcus Onobun, a House of Representatives member whose house the Governor allegedly threatened to demolish just days earlier over cultism allegations.
He questioned whether Onobun’s move to the governor’s party was coerced and asked if the demolition threat would now be reversed.
“The governor’s behavior raises serious concerns about the abuse of power and the use of state resources to intimidate political opponents. It’s particularly disturbing that he would publicly reference the killing of citizens without providing any evidence,” Ogene said.
He further warned that the safety of Peter Obi must not be compromised, calling on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and rein in the Edo governor’s conduct.
“Today it’s Governor Okpebholo of Edo; yesterday, it was Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue. If the ruling APC believes it can use threats to suppress Peter Obi’s rising popularity, they are gravely mistaken,” Ogene added.
The caucus concluded by urging the federal government to uphold its constitutional duty to protect all citizens and ensure that no harm comes to Mr. Obi or any other political figure based on their beliefs or affiliations.
