Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has issued a stern warning to the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, stating that he must obtain proper security clearance before entering the state.

This warning follows Obi’s recent visit to Benin City on July 7, during which he donated ₦15 million to St. Philomena’s Hospital School of Nursing Sciences. The governor linked the visit to a reported incident of violence that led to the deaths of three people shortly after Obi departed the state.

Speaking at a press event where he received former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun, into the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Okpebholo declared:
“Peter Obi must not enter Edo State again without clearance. If he comes without it, we cannot guarantee his safety. There is a new sheriff in town.”

The governor accused Obi of using his visit to incite violence and disturb the peace, noting that Edo will not tolerate politically motivated unrest disguised as humanitarian gestures.

In response, several opposition figures and rights groups have condemned the governor’s position. The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) described Okpebholo’s warning as unconstitutional and a violation of the fundamental right to free movement. Legal experts also expressed concerns that the directive could set a dangerous precedent for political intimidation in Nigeria.

Critics are calling on the governor to retract his statement and uphold the rule of law, emphasizing that no Nigerian citizen, including Peter Obi, should be denied access to any part of the country without just cause.