Former Labour Party presidential campaign spokesman, Kenneth Okonkwo, has criticised Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebolo, over his warning to Peter Obi not to enter the state without seeking his approval.
Okonkwo condemned the governor’s remarks as “illegal, irresponsible, and largely illiterate.”
He made the comments during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Monday, the 21st of July, 2025.
Citing the Nigerian Constitution, Okonkwo pointed to section 41, which guarantees every citizen the right to move freely within the country.
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He explained: “Let me state what section 41 said clearly, that every citizen of Nigeria shall be entitled to move freely, freely on the line throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or denied entry dear to or exit there from, if you put it into context with Edo state, It simply means no citizen of Nigeria can be expelled from Edo state or denied entry into Edo state or exit there from and every citizen of Nigeria has the right to move freely in Edo state.”
He added that the governor’s statement was a clear violation of constitutional provisions, also pointing to section 39 on freedom of expression and section 40 on freedom of association and assembly.
“So what the governor said is unconstitutional. It is illegal, it is irresponsible, and it’s largely illiterate, coupled with section 39 that guarantees freedom of expression and section 40 that guarantees freedom of association and assembly.”