The Edo State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paul Ohonbamu, has accused former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of disregarding security protocols during a recent visit to the state.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, Ohonbamu described Obi’s actions as hypocritical, referencing a 2013 incident in which then-Governor Obi allegedly detained Nasir El-Rufai, former Kaduna State governor, for 48 hours during a visit to Anambra.
“Protocol is standard practice, and Peter Obi knows this. He enforced it with brutal efficiency when he was governor,” Ohonbamu said. “El-Rufai himself admitted that he was detained for 48 hours in 2013. That wasn’t just an abuse of power—it reflected a pathological fixation with the use of raw authority.”
The commissioner’s comments come in the wake of a political stir following Obi’s 7 July visit to Edo State, which coincided with a police advisory warning against public gatherings. Ohonbamu said the visit lacked proper security clearance and defied established procedures.
He also criticized the reaction from Obi’s supporters, popularly known as “Obidients,” calling it politically charged and unwarranted.
“What the governor [Monday Okpebholo] said was not a threat. He only advised Obi to notify the state ahead of any future visits for proper security arrangements. If something goes wrong, it’s the government that’ll be blamed.”
Ohonbamu questioned why Obi, unlike other political figures, did not follow standard procedures when entering a state for political engagements.
“He’s not the only politician touring states—others comply with protocol, why not him?”
As of the time of reporting, Peter Obi has not publicly responded to the allegations.
