The Edo State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paul Ohonbamu, has accused the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of hypocrisy and disregard for lawful protocol.
He also cited a past incident in 2013 where the former Anambra State governor allegedly detained former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, for 48 hours in Anambra State.
Ohonbamu’s remarks come after Obi’s recent visit to Edo State, which the commissioner claimed violated security protocols and stirred unnecessary controversy.
“Protocol is standard practice, and Peter Obi knows this. He enforced it with brutal efficiency when he was governor. El-Rufai himself admitted that he was detained for 48 hours in 2013. That wasn’t just an abuse of power—it reflected a pathological fixation with the use of raw authority,” he said on Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
The commissioner argued that the current uproar from Obi’s supporters—known as “Obidients”—was politically motivated and unnecessary.
“What the governor [Monday Okpebholo] said was not a threat. He only advised Obi to notify the state ahead of any future visits for proper security arrangements. If something goes wrong, it’s the government that’ll be blamed.
“When he visited Edo on 7 July, it was the day the police warned that people should not gather, and Peter Obi violated that order. He’s not the only politician touring states—others comply with protocol, why not him?” he stated.
Ohonbamu further alleged that Obi’s past behaviour in Benue State also showed a disregard for official procedure, prompting Governor Hyacinth Alia to block his entry.
“Someone who detained another governor for political reasons cannot claim to be law-abiding. By my estimation, he is not law-abiding. I think he is just creating euphoria that does not exist.
“The law allows police to detain someone for 24 hours or charge them to court. Obi exceeded that. That’s not the rule of law; it’s political abuse,” he stated.
According to Ohonbamu, Obi’s public gestures—such as his ₦15 million donation to a nursing school during his Edo visit—mask deeper issues. The commissioner further revealed that Obi’s visit allegedly led to a stampede in the state, resulting in at least three deaths.
“Nothing is wrong with donating money, but you are giving the impression that your generosity—and all you can give—can thrive in an atmosphere of austerity. You don’t give the way others do. That’s what the governor is saying: this is outright hypocrisy. It is embedded in fraud, deceit, and deceit is fraud. Fraud is corruption.
“Intelligence reports confirmed it—two people died in the hospital. They were rushed there. Many of these things we don’t alert the public about. But you know, anywhere Obi enters, there’s this euphoria, and people rush after him. That can cause a stampede. The governor doesn’t want casualties in the state,” he said.
‘Infringement Of Fundamental Rights’
However, Labour Party’s Nana Kazaure, who appeared on the same programme, described Governor Okpebholo’s conduct as a violation of Obi’s constitutional rights.
“It’s an infringement on his fundamental rights as provided in Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution. The governor said Obi’s security couldn’t be guaranteed. That’s a threat. By now, I expect the IGP and NSA would have had strong words for the Edo state governor.
“It’s okay to be loyal to your political ambitions, but it’s unacceptable to threaten someone visiting for charitable reasons. This was a direct threat to Mr Obi’s life and an embarrassment to the governor,” she said.
However, Governor Okpebholo, through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, denied issuing any threat, insisting his comments were misinterpreted.
It added that Obi’s visit came at a time of rising insecurity in the state, especially attacks on religious leaders.
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Femi Falana has urged the Edo governor to withdraw his statement and apologise.
The Labour Party caucus in the Senate also condemned Okpebholo’s remarks, calling them “executive rascality and abuse of office” in a joint statement signed by Senators Victor Umeh, Ireti Kingibe, Ezea Okey, and Tony Nwoye.
