The African Democratic Congress has criticised Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo over his order restricting the 2024 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Okpebholo had on Friday barred Obi from entering the state, claiming his safety couldn’t be ensured unless he informed the governor beforehand.
Reacting, ADC on Sunday, condemned the restriction order placed on Peter Obi, describing it as unacceptable and a threat to democracy.
Speaking to journalists, ADC’s interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, warned that such actions are becoming a troubling trend among APC governors.
He stressed that the party is informing both Nigerians and the international community about the situation, insisting that every Nigerian has the right to move freely across all states, as every part of the country belongs to all its citizens.
Abdullahi stated, “The African Democratic Congress condemns the restriction order issued on Peter Obi.
“This is not the first time. It is becoming a pattern for APC governors to make the kind of pronouncements credited to Governor Okpebholo, declaring that Mr. Obi or opposition leaders are not welcome in their state.
“This is not democratic and it’s a very dangerous pattern. Nigeria is a free country, and every citizen of Nigeria has the right to go anywhere in this country.
“We don’t need a visa in our country. We don’t need anybody’s permission to go to any part of our country. “
The ADC said the development reflects authoritarian tendencies among some APC governors and warned that such behaviour, if not curtailed, could escalate.
It described the governor’s remark as undemocratic and likened it to a monarchical declaration.
The party added that it was deeply concerned that such actions were already occurring even before major political activities had begun.
ADC described the Edo State Governor’s remark as unacceptable.
He continued, “We have not started campaigns and already our governors are saying that some leaders of our parties are not welcome in their respective states.
“The states don’t belong to them. The states belong to the Nigerian people.
“So we are concerned and want to put it on record to every Nigerian and the international community to follow what is going on in Nigeria.”
“Having failed to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, now the strategy is to begin to intimidate and issue threats and warnings that we cannot come to their states.
“This is unacceptable. We will go anywhere in Nigeria that we want because Nigeria is a free country.”