Benin City, 19 July 2025 – The Niger Delta Congress (NDC) has strongly criticised Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo for his recent statements that appear to caution and indirectly threaten former presidential candidate Peter Obi against visiting the state without prior security clearance.
In a press release dated 19 July 2025, the NDC described the governor’s comments as a violation of the Nigerian Constitution, specifically Section 41, which guarantees every citizen’s right to freedom of movement. The organisation argued that such “divisive rhetoric undermines democratic principles and distracts from the Governor’s core responsibilities.”
The statement highlighted the pressing challenges facing Edo State, including rampant insecurity, dilapidated or non-existent public infrastructure, and the need for urgent action to ease the lives of its residents. “Edo State today faces dire challenges requiring urgent attention which so far Mr. Okpebholo has not shown the capacity and strength of character to address,” the release stated. It further accused the governor of focusing on threats rather than governance, noting that these issues are what Edo people expect him to prioritise.
The NDC called on Governor Okpebholo to apologise for his “divisive and threatening utterances targeted at Mr. Peter Obi” and to redirect his energies towards the socioeconomic advancement of Edo State. “The people of Edo State deserve leadership that upholds their constitutional rights and delivers measurable progress in security, infrastructure, and economic revitalisation,” the statement emphasised.
Signed by Mudiaga Ogboru, the NDC’s National Spokesperson, the condemnation urged the governor to play to the gallery no longer and instead focus on unifying the state. The release concluded by stressing the importance of thug-free governance and the magnification of governance in Edo State to the detriment of its people.
This development comes amid ongoing political tensions in Nigeria, where figures like Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, continue to engage in national discourse. Neither the Edo State government nor Mr. Obi’s representatives have yet responded to the NDC’s statement.
