ADC tackles Okpebholo, Alia, says ‘No governor can block our movement across Nigeria’
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has responded to warnings issued by two All Progressives Party (APC) governors to the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Speaking on Saturday during a press conference, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, reminded them that there is freedom of movement in Nigeria.
TheNiche had earlier reported that Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo on Friday, July 18, while speaking during the defection of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker, Marcus Onobun to the All Progressives Congress (APC), warned Obi not to enter the state without his permission.
He added that he cannot guarantee the security of the LP chieftain if he failed to notify him of his presence in the state, noting that a new “Sheriff” is in town.
Prior to this development, his Benue State counterpart, Governor Hyacinth Alia had issued a similar warning to Obi, when he visited his state.
Reacting to the directives, Abdullahi, described the remarks by the governors of Edo and Benue as undemocratic and unacceptable.
He further said no state governor has the power to stop its leaders from entering or operating in any part of Nigeria.
He also insisted that the country belongs to all Nigerians and not a select few in power.
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He noted the the threats reflect what he called an authoritarian instinct among some governors, especially those in the ruling APC.
“This kind of statement sounds more like something you’d hear from a monarch, not a leader in a democracy,” Abdullahi said.
He added, “We in the ADC are alarmed and deeply worried that political activities have not even started, yet some governors are already saying that certain leaders of our party are not welcome in their states.
“The states do not belong to them; they belong to the Nigerian people. We are concerned, and we want to put it on record for every Nigerian and the international community to closely follow what is happening in Nigeria.
“Having failed in their attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, their new strategy now is to intimidate us and issue threats, one of which is that we cannot visit certain states. This is unacceptable.
“We don’t need anybody’s permission to go to any part of our country. Nigeria is a free country, and no governor has the power to stop us from visiting any state.
“We will go anywhere in Nigeria that we want because Nigeria is a free country.”
