A member of the House of Representatives, Mr Peter Uzokwe, has called on the acting Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to identify and prosecute those behind the alleged attack on the convoy of Peter Obi.
Uzokwe, who represents Nnewi North-South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency of Anambra State, made the call on Wednesday in Abuja while addressing members of the House of Representatives Press Corps.
According to multiple reports, some yet-to-be identified gunmen shot at Obi’s convoy in Benin City as he approached the residence of former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun. Although some vehicles were reportedly damaged, Obi was said to have escaped unhurt.
The lawmaker, who recently defected to the African Democratic Congress, condemned the incident, describing it as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
According to him, “democracy thrives on healthy competition of ideas, not bullets, not violence, and certainly not assassination plots.”
While congratulating the new police boss, Uzokwe urged him to treat the alleged assassination attempt as a test of his leadership.
He said, “We must condemn what happened in Edo State yesterday (Tuesday). This is a litmus test for the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr Tunji Disu. I demand an immediate, transparent, and independent investigation into this disturbing incident.
“The perpetrators, sponsors, and collaborators, no matter how highly placed, must be identified and brought to justice. Anything short of this will send a dangerous signal that political violence is tolerated.”
Uzokwe furthersaid, “An attack on a presidential aspirant is not merely an attack on an individual; it is a direct assault on our democracy, our constitutional order, and the collective right of Nigerians to freely choose their leaders without fear, intimidation, or violence.
“it is unacceptable that in a democratic society, a political figure can be subjected to such grave danger while engaging with citizens. The political space must never be militarised or turned into a battlefield.”
The ADC lawmaker lamented the scourge of political violence and urged leaders to reflect on the consequences of their actions.
He also called on Governor Okpebholo to publicly condemn the incident.
Uzokwe further urged political actors to conduct their activities within the bounds of civility.
“Nigeria’s democracy is bigger than any party or individual. We must collectively resist every attempt to drag our nation into chaos and lawlessness. Political disagreements must remain within the bounds of civility and law.
“I urge security agencies to act swiftly and professionally. I urge political leaders across party lines to condemn this act unequivocally. And I urge Nigerians to remain calm but vigilant.
“Let this serve as a warning. Any attempt to undermine democracy through violence will be resisted by all patriots who believe in the rule of law and the sanctity of the ballot. We must protect our democracy. We must protect our political process and we must protect every Nigerian’s right to aspire, to campaign, and to lead without fear,” he added.
Tuesday’s incident occurred amid heightened political activity and early alignments ahead of the 2027 general election, with Obi maintaining an active schedule of consultations and engagements across the country.
The former Anambra State governor was said to be in Edo State to meet political stakeholders, including Odigie-Oyegun, when the attack reportedly took place.
The development has drawn attention because of the tense political atmosphere in the state following the 2024 governorship election and subsequent realignments among political actors.
Security concerns around political visits to Edo had also been heightened after Governor Okpebholo, in July 2025, warned Obi against visiting the state without prior security notification, a statement that generated controversy and debate over the freedom of movement of political figures.
