The Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has called for an investigation into an attack on its candidate in the September 21 governorship election, Senator Monday Okpebholo, in Benin, on Thursday.
Okpebholo and the reinstated deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, were shot at by gunmen on Thursday while exiting the Benin Airport after they arrived in Benin.
The Airport axis descended into chaos as thugs recklessly fired shots, forcing residents to flee the area in fear for their safety.
In a statement on Friday, the Director of Publicity, APC Governorship Campaign Council, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, condemned the attack on Okpebholo and described it as an assassination attempt.
According to Omo-Ojo, the APC candidate for the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, escaped an assassination attempt when he arrived at the Benin Airport to continue his campaigns. Sadly, the assassins succeeded in gruesomely taking the life of Police Inspector Onu Ako, one of his security details.
“Okpebholo’s peaceful procession from the airport to the APC Secretariat would have been conducted peacefully without any problem if the gunmen had not decided to ambush the candidate and his supporters at the Benin airport exit.
“Let it be known that our candidate did not commit any crime by passing through the airport gate after arriving from Abuja. Likewise, members of the APC who received him on his arrival.
“Those that committed the murder of Inspector Ako and attempted to assassinate Senator Okpebholo are the hired criminals who were identified by security agents present at the scene as representatives of the opposition party.
“This unprovoked horrific act of political violence against a peaceful Nigerian senator should have no place in Edo State. It should be unanimously and forcefully condemned by the federal government of Nigeria and the good people of Edo State.”
He added, “After a careful reflection, the APC regrets the killing of a serving police officer, who was murdered in cold blood while carrying out his official assignment.
“The party is also appalled by the pains caused by injuries sustained by hundreds of our members during the unexpected attack. We are grateful that Senator Okpebholo appears to be fine after a despicable attack on a peaceful motorcade.
“The attempted assassination of Senator Okpebholo, the APC gubernatorial candidate represents a glaring failure by the police, which left a serving senator exposed to gunfire in a breach of security that caused the fatality.
“We call on President Bola Tinubu to direct the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the State Security Service to probe this assassination attempt and bring the culprits to book and also rein in state-sponsored criminals who have brazenly made the political landscape unsafe.”
He condemned the security lapse that allowed the assassins, who were in a marked Sienna Bus.
