The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has denounced the reported violent attack on former presidential candidate Peter Obi and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun, in Benin City, Edo State.

In a statement released on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, the group described the incident as alarming and unacceptable, urging security agencies to act swiftly to investigate the matter.

According to Ohanaeze, the disturbance reportedly followed a political engagement linked to the African Democratic Congress, during which suspected hoodlums allegedly resorted to violence, including gunfire. The organisation said the development raises serious questions about the security of political stakeholders and the health of Nigeria’s democratic system.

The statement called for a comprehensive, transparent and timely investigation to ensure that those responsible are identified and prosecuted. It stressed that exposing prominent political figures to harm while participating in legitimate democratic activities poses a serious risk to national unity and democratic stability.

The President-General of Ohanaeze, Azuta Mbata, was quoted as describing the attack as unprovoked and wholly unacceptable in a democratic society. He warned that acts of political violence undermine the rule of law and erode public trust in the democratic process.

Ohanaeze further appealed to relevant authorities to guarantee adequate protection for political leaders, regardless of party affiliation, emphasizing that democracy can only flourish in an environment marked by safety, tolerance and respect for differing views.