The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has strongly condemned Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State over a statement warning 2027 presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, not to enter the state without his permission.
CUPP described the governor’s words as a “veiled death threat” and called the warning an unacceptable abuse of power and a violation of constitutional rights.
Governor Okpebholo, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), allegedly said that Obi’s safety could not be guaranteed if he entered the state, stating, “If anything happens to him here, he will have himself to blame. I’m not joking.” He also accused Obi of causing unrest during a previous visit, during which the former Anambra governor donated N15 million to a nursing school in Benin City.
This marks the second time an APC governor has warned Obi, following a similar statement earlier from Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia.
In a statement signed by CUPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Peter Ameh, the group criticized Governor Okpebholo’s stance, calling it a “disgraceful act that strikes at the heart of Nigeria’s democracy.”
“This is not just about Peter Obi. It is about every Nigerian’s right to move freely, associate, and offer support where needed. No governor has the power to stop a citizen from entering any part of the country,” the group stated.
CUPP urged civil society groups, political leaders, and Nigerians to speak out against what it called “a dangerous show of thuggery and arrogance.”
They also stressed that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of movement and expression, and warned that silence on such threats could weaken the country’s democracy.
“The rule of law must prevail. Edo people and Nigerians deserve better leadership, not threats and intimidation,” the group concluded.