Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has warned former presidential candidate Peter Obi not to enter the state again without first obtaining proper security clearance. The governor raised concerns following Obi’s recent visit to Benin City, during which he donated N15 million to St. Philomena Hospital School of Nursing Sciences to support the completion of several projects.
Speaking at a political event on Friday, where former lawmaker Marcus Onobun officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okpebholo linked Obi’s presence in the state to a sudden rise in violent incidents, including the killing of three individuals. He questioned the source of Obi’s donation, asking how someone known for claiming he had “no shishi” could suddenly give out such a large sum.
“That man who says he has no ‘shishi’ came and dropped N15 million. Where did he get it from? After he left, three people were killed. For this reason, Obi must not come to Edo without security clearance,” Okpebholo said.
The governor also used the occasion to declare that the PDP’s relevance in Edo politics was over. He described Onobun’s defection to the APC as the “final nail in the coffin” for the opposition party, adding that the APC had now taken full control of the state and would deliver 2.5 million votes to President Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
In response, the Obidient Movement, a support group backing Peter Obi, strongly criticized Okpebholo’s remarks. In a statement signed by its Director of Strategic Communications, Nana Kazaure, the group described the governor’s comments as unconstitutional and a threat to national unity. They cited Section 41 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to move freely and live anywhere in the country.
“It is disturbing and constitutionally indefensible for Governor Okpebholo to threaten or attempt to restrict this fundamental right,” the group said.
They also recalled a similar incident involving the Governor of Benue State, who previously warned Obi against visiting. According to the group, both cases show a pattern of hostility toward the former Anambra governor’s efforts to provide humanitarian support.
The Obidient Movement called on Nigerians and the international community to take note of the threats and urged the public to speak out against what they described as dangerous political intolerance.
“These governors are the chief security officers of their states. Their words carry weight, not just in speech but in potential consequences,” the group warned, adding that any harm to Obi would not go unnoticed.
