Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party candidate in the 2024 Edo governorship election, has recounted how armed assailants disrupted a meeting of the African Democratic Congress in Benin City, Edo State.
Speaking on the Arise Television Morning Show on Friday, Akpata said members of the group had received intelligence from a reliable source that the ADC secretariat was about to come under attack.
This prompted them to hasten their meeting and relocate to the residence of John Odigie-Oyegun, a chieftain of the party.
According to Akpata, as the group arrived at the residence, violence broke out. In the confusion, his cousin was struck on the head with a bottle by one of the assailants.
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“We tried to move things quickly. We left the premises and went to Chief Oyegun’s house. There is a particular cousin who had a bottle smashed on her head.
I had first-hand information about what happened,” he said.
Akpata further alleged that gunshots were fired at the scene, forcing security personnel present to usher participants into the sitting room for safety.
“We were right at the front door taking pictures when the shooting started. The DSS officers who were there had to push us back inside. We stayed there for about 20 minutes until the attackers fled,” he added.
He dismissed claims by the Edo State government that the violence was the result of internal disagreements within the ADC, insisting that the attack was aimed at intimidating voters and discouraging political participation.
“The issues within the party would not have led to armed men storming the heart of GRA in broad daylight and opening fire.
What happened was a message to the electorate that participating in the process comes at the risk of life and death. That is an attack on democracy,” Akpata said.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Command has confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the incident, assuring the public that those responsible would be brought to justice.
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