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 responsible for the alleged attack on the convoy of former Vice President and presidential aspirant, Peter Obi.
Uzokwe, who represents Nnewi North-South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency in Anambra State, made the call on Wednesday, February 25, in Abuja while addressing members of the House of Representatives Press Corps.
According to reports, unidentified gunmen opened fire on Obi’s convoy in Benin City as he approached the residence of former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun. While some vehicles were reportedly damaged, Obi escaped unhurt.
Condemning the incident, Uzokwe described it as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy. “Democracy thrives on healthy competition of ideas, not bullets, not violence, and certainly not assassination plots,” he said.
He urged the police boss to treat the alleged assassination attempt as a test of his leadership, calling for an “immediate, transparent, and independent investigation” into the incident.
Also, he added that perpetrators, sponsors, and collaborators, regardless of status, must be brought to justice.
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“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,” Uzokwe said.
He also called on Governor Okpebholo to publicly condemn the attack and urged political actors to conduct their activities within the bounds of civility, stressing that “Nigeria’s democracy is bigger than any party or individual.”
Tuesday’s attack occurred amid heightened political activity and early alignments ahead of the 2027 general election, with Obi reportedly in Edo State for consultations with political stakeholders, including Odigie-Oyegun.
Security concerns have been heightened in the state following the 2024 governorship election and prior warnings by Governor Okpebholo, who in July 2025 cautioned Obi against visiting Edo without prior security notification, a statement that had sparked controversy.
Uzokwe called on security agencies to act swiftly and professionally, urging political leaders across parties to condemn the act and Nigerians to remain calm but vigilant.