Jarret Tenebe, the Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has stirred controversy by publicly endorsing Governor Monday Okpebholo’s directive that Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, must seek permission before visiting Edo State.
Speaking at a press conference in Benin City over the weekend, Tenebe claimed that Obi is widely disliked in the state, stating, “Peter Obi can’t come to Edo without permission from Governor Okpebholo because of the kind of hatred that people have for him in Edo State, including me.”
The remarks follow Governor Okpebholo’s warning on July 18, 2025, during a political rally in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area, where he insisted that Obi must obtain security clearance before entering the state.
Okpebholo linked Obi’s July 7 visit, during which he donated ₦15 million to St. Philomena Hospital School of Nursing Sciences in Benin City, to subsequent unrest that allegedly resulted in three deaths.
No evidence has been provided to support this claim, prompting widespread criticism.
Tenebe doubled down on the governor’s stance, asserting that the alleged hostility toward Obi, including his own, justifies the need for prior notification to ensure public safety.
“When you have so many of us that have hatred for people like that, especially when they came to Edo State and people died, it is proper for him to tell the governor before he comes so that people like us can be sent on errand out of Edo,” Tenebe said, suggesting that Obi’s presence could provoke unrest.
The statements have ignited a firestorm of condemnation. Legal experts, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Kunle Edun and former National Human Rights Commission Chairman Chidi Odinkalu, labeled the remarks unconstitutional, citing Section 41(1) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of movement for all citizens.
Edun urged Obi to seek legal redress at the Federal High Court in Benin if the threat is not retracted, calling it a violation of Obi’s fundamental rights.
The Labour Party Senate Caucus, comprising senators like Victor Umeh and Ireti Kingibe, demanded an immediate retraction and apology, describing the comments as a “veiled death threat” and urging security agencies to investigate.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) condemned the rhetoric as a dangerous pattern of APC governors restricting opposition leaders’ movements, referencing a similar incident in Benue State earlier in 2025.
The Edo State government, through Chief Press Secretary Fred Itua, clarified on July 20 that Okpebholo’s remarks were not a threat but a call for high-profile individuals to adhere to security protocols. Itua cited rising insecurity, including attacks on clergy, and quoted Matthew 6:2-4 to emphasize discreet giving to avoid attracting attention.
“Edo remains a home for all Nigerians, provided appropriate security and procedural protocols are respected,” the statement read.
However, critics, including the Igbo Community Association in the FCT, dismissed the clarification as inadequate, accusing Okpebholo and Tenebe of political persecution and ethnic bias against Obi, an Igbo leader.
They argued that the allegations of violence linked to Obi’s visit are baseless and inflammatory, demanding a retraction to prevent further division.
The controversy has heightened political tensions in Edo State ahead of a senatorial rerun election, with observers warning that such rhetoric could undermine democratic norms and national unity.
As of now, Peter Obi has not publicly responded, but his supporters and civil society groups continue to demand accountability, arguing that no governor has the authority to restrict a citizen’s constitutional right to free movement.
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