The Leadership & Accountability Initiative, a prominent Nigerian civil society group, has formally petitioned the United States Embassy in Abuja, urging a visa ban on Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo and his family members.
The petition, submitted on July 21, 2025, accuses the governor of issuing "state-sanctioned threats" against Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, following remarks made during a political event on July 18, 2025.
According to the group, Governor Okpebholo warned Obi against visiting Edo State without prior security clearance, stating, “whatever he sees, he should take,” a comment widely interpreted as a threat to Obi’s safety and freedom of movement.
The petition claims these remarks violate democratic norms and constitute an abuse of state power to suppress opposition voices.
“Threatening political opponents with violence or obstruction undermines Nigeria’s democracy and the rule of law,” the group stated, referencing a similar incident where another governor allegedly restricted Obi’s movements.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide echoed the call for sanctions, labeling the governor’s statement an “assassination threat” and urging the US and UK to impose visa restrictions on Okpebholo.
The group’s National President, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, described the remarks as an attack not only on Obi but on the broader Igbo community, raising concerns about ethnic targeting.
“Why is it always Peter Obi? Is he the only opposition politician in Nigeria?” Nnabuike questioned.Additionally, Festus Ogun Legal, a law firm, issued a seven-day ultimatum to Governor Okpebholo, demanding a public apology and retraction of the statements, citing a violation of Obi’s constitutional right to freedom of movement under Section 41 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
The firm warned of legal action if the governor fails to comply.The controversy stems from Obi’s July 7, 2025, visit to Edo State, where he donated N15 million to St. Philomena Hospital School of Nursing.
Okpebholo alleged the visit incited violence, claiming three deaths occurred in Benin City afterward, though no evidence has been provided to substantiate this claim.
The petition has sparked widespread debate, with critics, including the Nigerian Bar Association and the African Democratic Congress, condemning Okpebholo’s comments as unconstitutional and a threat to Nigeria’s democratic fabric.
As of now, the US Embassy has not publicly responded to the petition, and the situation continues to fuel discussions about political tolerance and freedom of movement in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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