Concerns over political intimidation and the safety of opposition parties have intensified in Edo State following reported attacks on campaign billboards, banners and posters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The incidents have raised questions about the freedom of political parties to campaign without interference, with stakeholders warning that the destruction of campaign materials could heighten tensions and discourage participation in the electoral process.
The latest reported incident involved the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), whose campaign office along Stadium Road in Benin City was allegedly attacked by suspected thugs.
According to the party, the attackers struck at about 10pm, destroying banners, posters and billboards displayed at the office.
The NDC further alleged that the facility was attacked again days after repairs had been undertaken, with spent bullet casings reportedly found at the scene.
Reacting to the development, the NDC candidate for Oredo Federal Constituency, Hon. Frank Omoigho, condemned the alleged attacks, describing political intimidation as a threat to democratic participation.
Omoigho, however, acknowledged the efforts of Governor Monday Okpebholo in addressing security challenges in the state, urging the government to ensure that the incidents did not undermine public confidence or damage Edo State’s reputation.
He maintained that members of the NDC were law-abiding citizens entitled to carry out their political activities without fear of harassment or violence.
“As a party and person, I am not going to take it lightly with them. I dare anybody to come again because this is a campaign office and we are law-abiding citizens,” he said.
The candidate expressed concern over the alleged recurrence of the attacks, insisting that political disagreements should not be settled through violence or the destruction of opponents’ campaign materials.
A social commentator, Comrade Gbale, also condemned the incidents, stressing that democracy could only thrive when political actors respected the rights of others to seek public office and canvass for votes.
Gbale alleged that the attacks were intended to disrupt Omoigho’s political activities, arguing that candidates should compete on the strength of their programmes, public acceptance and capacity to deliver rather than resort to intimidation.
In a notable response, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Oredo Federal Constituency, Dr Paddy Iyamu, pledged to replace the campaign materials belonging to Omoigho that were reportedly destroyed.
Iyamu, a former Edo State Commissioner for Education, made the commitment during a meeting with members of the Benin Journalists Forum in Benin City, describing the destruction of opponents’ campaign materials as unnecessary and incompatible with democratic values.
He called on politicians and their supporters to embrace issue-based campaigns, warning against actions capable of escalating political rivalry into hostility.
According to him, electoral contests should be determined by voters’ assessment of candidates’ records, policies and contributions to society, rather than acts of aggression against political opponents.
Iyamu further cautioned that the destruction of campaign materials could inflame political tensions and weaken citizens’ confidence in their ability to participate freely in the electoral process.
As political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections, the reported incidents have renewed calls for security agencies to protect political parties and their supporters, investigate allegations of intimidation and ensure that all candidates enjoy equal opportunities to campaign.
Stakeholders have also emphasised the need for political parties to discourage violence among their supporters and promote peaceful competition as the state approaches another electoral cycle.
