KEY POINTS
- Gunmen attacked ADC leaders in Benin City on February 24, 2026.
- Police confirmed property damage and ongoing investigations.
- APC and Edo government denied involvement in the attack.
Tension rose in Benin City on Tuesday after gunmen attacked a political gathering of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), forcing key opposition figures, including Peter Obi and former Edo State Governor John Odigie-Oyegun, to flee the scene.
The violence erupted minutes after ADC leaders formally received Olumide Akpata, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association and Labour Party’s 2024 Edo governorship candidate, into the party at its secretariat on Ogbelaka Street, off Sokponba Road.
Witnesses said the assailants arrived in an unmarked Sienna bus and on a motorcycle, firing shots and vandalising chairs, canopies and banners. Some attendees sustained injuries.
Attack on ADC Leaders in Benin City
The attackers later moved to Odigie-Oyegun’s residence on Reservation Road, fired additional gunshots, and damaged vehicles parked near the gate. Video footage circulating online showed bullet holes on the gate and shattered car windows.
Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, described the incident as a troubling signal. “It is time to speak up,” he said in a video recorded at the residence, pointing to visible damage. “That is where our democracy has reached.”
Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, alleged that unknown individuals trailed the group from the secretariat. Edo ADC Chairman Kennedy Odion accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of masterminding the attack, a claim the APC denied.
Security Response and Political Reactions
Odigie-Oyegun said the meeting had been cut short after security agencies warned of a possible attack. “You can’t ignore information,” he told journalists, questioning the absence of coordinated protection despite the alert.
The Edo State Police Command confirmed the attack on ADC leaders in Benin City. Police spokesperson Eno Ikoedem said officers responded after suspected hoodlums disrupted the gathering around 2:55 p.m. on February 24, 2026. He said chairs and canopies were damaged, no casualties were recorded, and investigations are ongoing. Armed officers later secured both locations.
Edo Commissioner for Information Kassim Afegbua attributed the violence to internal disputes within the ADC, while APC Chairman Emperor Jarret Tenebe rejected allegations of involvement.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar condemned the attack as unacceptable in a democracy, warning against political rhetoric that could inflame tensions. The attack on ADC leaders in Benin City has sharpened political strains in Edo State as investigations continue.
