Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has called on security agencies to investigate a reported attack on former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and former All Progressives Congress National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun in Edo State.
In a statement Wednesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan described the incident as “deeply disturbing” and warned that rising political hostility poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic stability.
“I strongly condemn the reported assassination attempt on former Governor Peter Obi and former National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, in Edo State,” she said.
The lawmaker’s comments come amid heightened political tensions and concerns over the safety of opposition figures.
Details of the alleged attack remain sketchy, but the development has sparked debate over political intolerance and the need for restraint ahead of future elections.
Akpoti-Uduaghan said violence, intimidation, and threats must never define Nigeria’s democratic space. “Politics must never descend into violence, intimidation, or threats against perceived opponents,” she said.
She also criticized what she called overzealous political actors who harass opposition members in a bid to show loyalty to political leaders. “Such actions are reckless, counterproductive, and dangerous to our national unity,” she said.
The senator stressed that democracy depends on healthy competition, free expression, and respect for dissenting voices. “Attempts to silence or endanger the opposition undermine the very foundation of our democratic system,” she said.
Calling for a thorough investigation, Akpoti-Uduaghan urged security agencies to hold those responsible accountable. “Nigeria must remain a nation where political differences are resolved through dialogue and the ballot, not through violence,” she said.
It was reported that Obi, Odigie-Oyegun, and other African Democratic Congress leaders were allegedly attacked by suspected thugs in Benin, Edo State, during political activities surrounding the formal declaration of Olumide Akpata into the party.
Photos and videos circulated by Obi’s former campaign spokesman, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, showed several SUVs with smashed windshields and the gate to Odigie-Oyegun’s residence riddled with bullets.
