The Edo State Commissioner for Information, Paul Ohonbamu, has accused Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of hypocrisy and disregard for official protocols during his recent visit to the state.
Ohonbamu in an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, July 21, criticised Obi’s July 7 visit, alleging it violated police advisories and created avoidable controversy.
He claimed Obi did not inform state authorities ahead of his visit and blamed the resulting chaos on the former Anambra governor’s approach.
“Protocol is standard practice, and Peter Obi knows this. He enforced it with brutal efficiency when he was governor. El-Rufai himself admitted that he was detained for 48 hours in 2013.
“That wasn’t just an abuse of power—it reflected a pathological fixation with the use of raw authority,” he said.
The commissioner also said Obi’s supporters, known as “Obidients,” exaggerated the issue for political reasons.
He argued that Governor Monday Okpebholo merely advised Obi to follow security procedures in future visits and did not issue any threats.
READ ALSO: Gov Okpebholo’s Warning to Peter Obi Not Threat — Edo Govt
“When he visited Edo on 7 July, it was the day the police warned that people should not gather, and Peter Obi violated that order. He’s not the only politician touring states—others comply with protocol, why not him?” Ohonbamu stated.
He further alleged that Obi’s donation of ₦15 million to a nursing school masked political motives and claimed the visit led to a stampede that caused at least two deaths.
“Anywhere Obi enters, there’s this euphoria, and people rush after him. That can cause a stampede. The governor doesn’t want casualties in the state,” he added.
However, Labour Party spokesperson Nana Kazaure described the governor’s remarks as a violation of Obi’s rights.
“It’s an infringement on his fundamental rights as provided in Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution. The governor said Obi’s security couldn’t be guaranteed. That’s a threat,” she said.
Governor Okpebholo, through his press secretary, denied making any threats and cited insecurity as the reason for his comments.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has urged the governor to apologise, while Labour senators condemned the remarks as “executive rascality.”