The Labour Party (LP) Caucus in the Nigerian Senate has strongly criticised Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, following his recent threat to bar the Labour Party’s 2023 Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, from entering Edo State.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Senators Victor Umeh, Ireti Kingibe, Ezea Okey, and Tony Nwoye called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, to take urgent note of the governor’s warning.
The senators asserted, “Mr Peter Obi is a citizen of Nigeria, and his movement is guaranteed and should not be curtailed by sheer Executive lawlessness and impudence. As a champion of democracy, nation-building and sustainable development, Mr Peter Obi deserves protection and support from the law and all who share the vision for a better Nigeria.”
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“Deaths followed your visit” – Okpebholo tells Obi to stay away from Edo without clearance
The controversy arose after Governor Okpebholo, during a public event on Friday, cautioned Peter Obi against visiting Edo State without prior security clearance. The governor justified his stance by citing incidents of violence that reportedly occurred in the aftermath of Obi’s last visit to the state.
This development has intensified debates over political freedom and the right to movement for presidential candidates across Nigeria, with many urging the federal security agencies to intervene and uphold democratic principles ahead of the general elections.
Daily Post recalls that the tension escalated following the governor’s remarks, raising concerns over the impact of such threats on the country’s electoral process and democratic integrity.
The Labour Party Senate Caucus’s response underscores the party’s resolve to protect its candidate’s rights and calls for accountability from state executives who undermine Nigeria’s democratic values.
