A civil society organization, Leadership & Accountability Initiative, has submitted a formal petition to the United States Embassy in Abuja, calling for a visa ban on Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and members of his immediate family over what it described as “state-sanctioned threats” against former presidential candidate and Labour Party leader, Mr. Peter Obi.
In the petition, submitted on Monday and obtained by journalists, the group accused Governor Okpebholo of issuing direct threats to Obi’s safety and freedom of movement, based on remarks allegedly made by the governor on Friday, July 18, 2025.
Governor Okpebholo is quoted as warning that Peter Obi “must not come to Edo for any reason,” and ominously adding that “whatever he sees, he should take.”
The group described the statement as “a reckless abuse of office, amounting to a dangerous attack on democratic freedoms and a clear act of political intimidation.”
The petition reads in part:
“We write as concerned stakeholders in the protection and promotion of democratic values, civil liberties, and political tolerance within the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“On or about Friday, July 18, 2025, Governor Monday Okpebholo openly threatened Mr. Obi against visiting Edo State for any reason whatsoever, warning that ‘whatever he sees, he should take.’
“This direct threat to the life, liberty, and political rights of a prominent opposition figure amounts to state-sanctioned intimidation and poses a grave danger to Nigeria’s fragile democracy.”
The group also referenced a recent incident involving another state governor allegedly attempting to bar Obi from entering a neighboring state, arguing that a “disturbing pattern” of coordinated political persecution is emerging.
It warned that such conduct violates fundamental constitutional rights and sets a dangerous precedent for the use of state machinery to suppress political opposition.
READ ALSO: Gov Okpebholo’s Warning to Peter Obi Not Threat — Edo Govt
“The use of state power to silence political rivals is not only a violation of human rights but also an affront to democratic norms and international standards,” the petition stated.
Highlighting its reasons for urging the U.S. government to act, the group listed the following:
Violation of democratic norms: The threat to a political opponent undermines the principles of democracy and free political participation.
Abuse of state power: The governor is allegedly using his office to suppress dissent and intimidate political opposition.
The group concluded by urging the U.S. government to consider sanctions, including visa restrictions, as a means to hold public officials accountable for anti-democratic conduct.
Meanwhile, earlier report claimed that a law firm, Festus Ogun Legal (FOLEGAL), issued a seven-day ultimatum to Governor Okpebholo, demanding a retraction of the alleged threats and a public apology to Mr. Obi and the Nigerian public.
In that report, the governor had reportedly warned that Obi “must not come to Edo without security clearance” and stated that the former presidential candidate’s safety could not be guaranteed if he failed to comply.
As of press time, Governor Okpebholo has not publicly addressed the allegations or the petition.
