National Leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has expressed doubt over the ability of security agencies to apprehend gunmen who attacked the party’s secretariat and his residence in Benin, Edo State, on Tuesday.
Odigie-Oyegun spoke on Friday after the party’s South-South Zonal Leadership Committee meeting held at his residence in the Government Reservation Area, noting that he was uncertain whether any arrests had been made in connection with the attack.
“I am not sure if an arrest has been made. I am also not sure if an arrest will be made considering the nature of the event. Imagine people bearing arms in broad daylight and were seen, and no one has been arrested up till now,” he said.
He added that the timely alert from security agencies prevented further harm. “We had to quickly bring the programme to an end. We barely got to my house and we heard that the secretariat had been attacked by thugs bearing arms. If we were still there when they attacked the secretariat, we wouldn’t be saying what we are saying now,” he said.
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Odigie-Oyegun also reiterated ADC’s readiness for the January elections, urging the government to ensure peace and discourage violence in the lead-up to the polls. He stated that the party would do everything necessary to become the choice of Nigerians, describing it as a party “put together at the behest of the masses.”
He called on leaders and party members in the zone to work in unity and learn from each other’s experience to strengthen the party’s position.
Meanwhile, former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, used the meeting to announce his intention to contest the presidency in next year’s election.