US Embassy Petitioned to Ban Edo Governor Okpebholo and Family Over Alleged Threats to Peter Obi

A Nigerian civil society group, the Leadership & Accountability Initiative, has submitted a petition to the United States Embassy in Abuja, urging a visa ban on Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his immediate family members. The group accuses the governor of issuing threats against former presidential candidate and Labour Party leader, Mr. Peter Obi.

According to the petition, Governor Okpebholo allegedly stated that Obi should not visit Edo State, warning that “whatever he sees, he should take” a statement the group interprets as a direct threat to Obi’s safety, freedom of movement, and political participation.

The petition describes the remarks as an abuse of office and a dangerous form of state-backed intimidation aimed at silencing opposition voices. It warns that such actions undermine democratic values and set a troubling precedent for Nigeria’s political landscape.

This is not the first time concerns have been raised about threats directed at Obi. The petition cites a similar incident where another state governor reportedly barred the opposition leader from entering a neighboring state. The group believes this emerging pattern of political hostility threatens Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.

The petition calls on the US government to respond with diplomatic sanctions and visa restrictions as a deterrent to further acts of political repression.

In a related development, human rights law firm Festus Ogun Legal has given Governor Okpebholo a seven-day ultimatum to withdraw his statement and issue a public apology to Mr. Obi and Nigerians. The firm argues that the governor’s demand for Obi to obtain “security clearance” before visiting Edo State is unconstitutional and violates Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees citizens the right to move freely throughout the country.

Citing legal precedents, the firm maintains that no governor has the authority to restrict a citizen’s movement arbitrarily. Failure to comply with the ultimatum, it warned, could lead to legal action in defense of constitutional rights.

Legal experts and civil society leaders are calling on public officials to respect the rule of law and uphold democratic principles, warning that using state power to suppress political opponents poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s democratic future.