Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has come under fire for issuing a controversial warning to former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, cautioning him against entering the state without his express permission.
Speaking in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area, during the defection of PDP lawmaker Hon. Marcus Onobun to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Okpebholo alleged that Obi’s last visit to Edo, during which he donated ₦15 million to a nursing school, was followed by a crisis in which three people reportedly died.
“The man wey say e no get ‘shishi,’ I am sending a direct message to him. He cannot come to Edo without telling me. A new sheriff is in town,” the governor declared in a mix of English and Pidgin, accusing Obi of hypocrisy and claiming Edo’s support for President Bola Tinubu in 2027 was already guaranteed.
The governor’s comments, perceived by many as a veiled threat, have drawn strong condemnation from political stakeholders, particularly the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP).
Chief Peter Ameh, National Secretary of the CUPP and a chieftain of the Labour Party, slammed the governor’s remarks as “despicable, unconstitutional, and a betrayal of democratic values.”
In a strongly worded statement, Ameh said, “Okpebholo’s recorded remarks, warning Obi not to ‘dare’ enter Edo State without his permission and stating that his security is not guaranteed, constitute a veiled death threat against a law-abiding citizen exercising his constitutional rights.”
He described the governor’s conduct as “a disgraceful act that strikes at the heart of Nigeria’s democracy,” warning that such statements could incite division and undermine public trust in democratic institutions.
“This shameful episode demands immediate and unequivocal condemnation from all quarters—civil society, political leaders, traditional institutions, and the general public,” Ameh added.
The CUPP reminded the governor that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees all citizens the right to freedom of movement and association, and urged Nigerians to resist any attempts to intimidate or silence voices of opposition and charity.
While welcoming Hon. Onobun into the APC, Governor Okpebholo also took aim at other opposition leaders, accusing them of corruption, failed leadership, and contributing to national insecurity.
Despite the political rhetoric, critics insist that the governor’s comments have crossed a constitutional line, prompting calls for accountability and respect for democratic norms as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.
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