The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the alleged assault and public humiliation of Dr. Pedro Agbonifo Obaseki, a cousin of former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, labeling it a coordinated act of political violence. In a statement released on Sunday, the party’s Edo State Publicity Secretary, Dan Osa-Ogbegie, claimed the attack was carried out by youths supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The incident reportedly took place on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at the Uwa Primary School football field in Benin City. According to reports and social media footage, a mob accosted Dr. Obaseki, allegedly over claims that he made disrespectful remarks about the Oba of Benin. The victim was harassed, stripped, and forcibly dragged toward the Oba’s Palace.
Osa-Ogbegie described the act as “barbarism in its rawest form” and “utterly repugnant,” asserting that such behavior contradicts the dignified values and traditions of the Benin Kingdom. The PDP emphasized that Dr. Obaseki is a respected academic and advocate who posed no threat to public order. The party further argued that even if an offense were alleged, the proper channel for justice is the police, not mob action.
The PDP called on the Edo State Commissioner of Police to arrest and prosecute those involved. They also accused the APC-led state government of encouraging violence through silence and demanded a public explanation from security agencies, as well as a clear disassociation from the act by traditional institutions.
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