Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has strongly criticised Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo for his recent warning to former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, urging him not to visit the state without prior clearance.
Effiong, in a statement posted on the social media platform X, described the governor’s remarks as irresponsible and unbecoming of a public official. The backlash follows Okpebholo’s controversial declaration that Obi’s security would not be guaranteed if he entered Edo State without notifying the government, a statement many have condemned as undemocratic and a violation of constitutional rights to freedom of movement and association.
Inibehe Effiong did not mince words in his critique, labelling Okpebholo a “semi-literate governor issuing silly threats in the name of politics.” He argued that such behaviour reflects the broader problem of unqualified individuals holding political office, warning that “allowing misfits and thuggish individuals to assume political positions will always lead to disaster.”
The lawyer further accused the governor of setting the stage for electoral malpractice ahead of the 2027 general elections, stating, “They’re now saying clearly that they are preparing and planning for carnage and rigging in 2027”.
The governor’s comments came after Obi visited Edo State, where he donated ₦15 million to a nursing school. Okpebholo claimed the visit incited violence, resulting in three deaths—an allegation that has yet to be verified by authorities. Legal experts and civil society groups have dismissed the governor’s directive as unconstitutional, emphasising that no Nigerian citizen, including Obi, can be barred from any state without legal justification.
The controversy has sparked widespread outrage, with critics accusing Okpebholo of political intimidation and undermining democratic norms. As tensions rise, Inibehe Effiong’s condemnation highlights growing concerns over authoritarian tendencies among some elected officials and the need for accountability in governance.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
