Edo State government has accused former presidential candidate Peter Obi of being a destabilising influence in the state’s politics, alleging his political engagements are consistently followed by internal crises. The allegations were made by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Kassim Afegbua, during a television interview on Wednesday, as discussions continue surrounding a reported assassination attempt on Obi.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Afegbua asserted that Obi’s history demonstrates a pattern of inciting political unrest in Edo. He specifically referenced two previous visits by Obi to the state, claiming both resulted in crisis. The commissioner further linked this pattern to Obi’s recent political movements, particularly his departure from the Labour Party (LP).
Afegbua alleged that Obi left the LP amid unresolved factional disputes without demonstrating leadership to settle the conflicts, which he said should have defined Obi’s credentials. “You cannot be in a party, Labor Party, you created factions and all that. You couldn’t resolve this crisis, and you have exported the crisis to another party,” Afegbua stated.
The commissioner characterised Obi’s new affiliation with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a merger with “disgruntled elements” primarily from the PDP and LP, seeking a new platform. He warned Obi against involving Edo in external party conflicts, stating: “Please don’t come and pollute the atmosphere of Edo in such a manner that whatever happens within your party, you will not want to wear us the crown.”
Afegbua directly attributed the alleged instability to Obi’s presence, saying, “Peter Obi is a problem to the politics of Edo because any party he belongs is crisis.” This view, he noted, was echoed by a previous discussant, Olumide Apata.
The comments place Edo State in direct opposition to Obi, a significant figure in Nigerian opposition politics following his 2023 presidential run on the LP ticket. Obi’s political journey has included a high-profile switch from the PDP to the LP, and subsequently to the ADC, amid ongoing realignments within Nigeria’s opposition landscape. The LP has faced public factional disputes since the 2023 elections.
The state government’s strong rhetoric underscores the tension between regional authorities and national opposition figures. Afegbua stressed that Edo will not accept responsibility for fallout from what he termed Obi’s “exported” internal party crises. No immediate response has been issued by Obi or the ADC to the specific allegations. The situation highlights the volatile interplay between state security narratives and national political competition in Nigeria.
