A political event in Benin City attended by Peter Obi, former APC National Chairman John Oyegun and members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was thrown into chaos after armed men reportedly stormed the venue and gunshots were fired.
Witness accounts say the disruption occurred shortly after the gathering began, sending party members and supporters running for safety. Footage from the scene showed confusion and panic as attendees scrambled to escape.
Obi later described the incident as an assassination attempt, saying he and other leaders narrowly escaped harm. He suggested the attack was targeted and warned about the dangerous direction of political intolerance in the country.
The attack was widely condemned. Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo denounced the violence but linked it to internal disputes within the ADC, suggesting that factional tensions inside the party may have played a role in the disruption.
The incident comes amid reports of a brewing crisis within the ADC in Edo, including allegations that some key figures were excluded from internal meetings, a sign of deepening divisions within the party structure in the state.
Party members described the attack as an assault on individuals and democratic engagement. Armed thugs were said to have directly targeted the gathering, raising fresh concerns about political violence.
The disruption has intensified concerns about rising political tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections. Observers say the incident reflects both internal instability within emerging political alliances and the broader risk of violence as parties begin early positioning.
As of now, there has been no confirmation of arrests in connection with the attack.
