Former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has condemned an attack on members and supporters of the party and the Obidient Movement in Delta State, which left one person dead and five others injured.
Gatekeepers News reports that Obi, in a statement posted on his X handle on Sunday, described the incident as disturbing, insisting that political violence has no place in a democratic society.
He said the victims were exercising their democratic rights and maintained that no political ambition was worth the life of any Nigerian.
The former governor called on the Federal Government and security agencies to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation, identify those responsible and ensure they are brought to justice, irrespective of their political affiliations.
Obi also criticised the use of intimidation, physical attacks and destruction of property to gain political influence, stressing that political authority should be earned through persuasion and the trust of the electorate.
He further assured members of the NDC and the Obidient Movement that they would not be intimidated or silenced, adding that their response to the incident would remain peaceful and lawful.
The attack occurred on Saturday along Nnebisi Road in Asaba during a political procession organised by the Obidient/OK Movement in support of Obi’s presidential ambition.
The Delta State Police Command said it had commenced an investigation into the incident.
The command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, said the police had received intelligence indicating the possibility of violence before the procession and had advised the organisers to hold their gathering at a designated venue instead of conducting an open-road procession.
However, the organisers reportedly proceeded with the procession despite the warning.
The police said officers were deployed following a distress call and that the injured victims were taken to hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, the NDC condemned the attack, alleging that armed hoodlums disrupted the procession, injured supporters and vandalised several campaign vehicles.
The party called on security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible while urging its supporters to remain calm and avoid retaliation.
