A wave of shock and outrage swept across Nigeria’s political landscape on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, as prominent opposition leaders, including Peter Obi and Olumide Akpata, were violently attacked in Benin, Edo State, while on a meeting with Coalition ADC leaders.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar leading the charge, denouncing the assault as “utterly condemnable and unacceptable in any democracy”.
In a scathing statement, Atiku Abubakar pointed an accusing finger at the ruling APC, alleging that the party’s inflammatory rhetoric had created a toxic environment that legitimises violence against opposition voices. “The ruling APC appears to have escalated its intolerance from bureaucratic suppression to open aggression,” Atiku charged.
The attack on the opposition leaders, which also injured Chief John Oyegun, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, and Sen. Owie, has raised the alarm bells about Nigeria’s democratic health.
Atiku Abubakar is now calling on President Bola Tinubu and the nation’s security chiefs to take immediate action to guarantee the safety of opposition leaders and supporters, stressing that their protection is a “democratic obligation”, not a favour.
“Nigeria must not descend into a theatre where politics is settled by violence,” Atiku warned, urging the government to act swiftly to stem the tide of violence and ensure that those responsible for the attack are brought to justice.
The incident has sparked concerns about the growing culture of impunity and intolerance in Edo State, with opposition voices being targeted and silenced through violence and intimidation. As Nigeria hurtles towards the 2027 elections, the attack on opposition leaders has raised questions about the country’s readiness for peaceful and credible polls.
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