The Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has stirred a storm of controversy after publicly warning former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, not to step into the state again without first seeking his permission — or risk dire consequences.
Governor Okpebholo issued the threat on Friday during a defection rally held in Uromi, where Marcus Onobun, a member of the House of Representatives and former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a video clip that has since gone viral, Okpebholo declared that Obi’s safety could no longer be guaranteed if he returned to Edo State uninvited.
“The man wey say he no get shishi, I am sending a direct message to him: there is a new sheriff in town.
He cannot come to Edo without telling me because his security will never be guaranteed. Whatever happens to him when he is in Edo State, he will take it. I am serious about it,” the governor said to a cheering crowd.
The governor’s remarks followed Obi’s recent visit to Benin City, where he donated ₦15 million to the School of Nursing at St. Philomena Hospital — a gesture which reportedly coincided with unrest that led to the deaths of three people.
“He came the other day and donated ₦15 million. Somebody wey say he no get shishi — where he get ₦15 million to donate? By the time he left, there was crisis. Three people died in Benin. So for that reason, tell Obi he should not come to Edo without telling me,” Okpebholo added.
The governor’s threat has drawn sharp criticism from political observers, legal minds, and supporters of Peter Obi, who argue that Okpebholo’s comments are not only unconstitutional but could incite political violence and endanger national unity.
Legal expert and former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, in a swift reaction on social media, described Okpebholo’s words as “reckless, dangerous, and beneath the office of a democratically elected governor.”
“This is how tyranny begins. Every Nigerian has a constitutional right to move freely across this country. No governor has the power to issue threats of violence against citizens,” Odinkalu posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Meanwhile, Governor Okpebholo used the rally to trumpet what he described as APC’s growing dominance in Edo politics.
He boasted that the ruling party had finally “buried the PDP” in the state and predicted a landslide victory for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
“We are not lobbying anyone to join APC; they are coming because they see the results of our governance. In 2027, 2.5 million votes from Edo are guaranteed for President Bola Tinubu,” he said.
“Last week, we finally buried the PDP in Edo State. I saw someone crying at Ring Road, talking about having 65%. That is what we call social media winning. Today, we are turning Edo into a construction site.”
The rally was organized to welcome Marcus Onobun into the APC.
Onobun, who represented Esan Central/Esan West/Igueben Federal Constituency, was the only PDP member from Edo in the House of Representatives.
His defection is seen as a significant blow to the opposition party in the state.
With Edo’s governorship election looming, Friday’s drama has further heightened political tensions and drawn national attention to the state.
As of the time of filing this report, Peter Obi and his media aides had yet to issue an official statement on the governor’s threats.
However, Labour Party supporters across platforms have condemned the statement and demanded an immediate retraction and public apology.
Legal analysts argue that Governor Okpebholo’s warning contravenes Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees every Nigerian the right to move freely throughout the country without harassment or intimidation.
Civil society organizations and political watchers are now calling on federal authorities, including the Nigeria Police and Department of State Services (DSS), to investigate the remarks and ensure that the safety of all political actors is preserved, regardless of party affiliation.
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