Kenneth Okonkwo Sparks Controversy, Accuses APC of Targeting ADC After Peter Obi Assassination Escape

Veteran Nollywood actor Kenneth Okonkwo is trending on social media after accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating an attempted “ADC genocide” following the near-assassination of former presidential candidate Peter Obi in Edo State.

The allegation comes just 72 hours after a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was stabbed in the chest and killed in Abuja while trying to resist ballot box snatchers.

According to the ADC, after leaving the party secretariat in Benin  where Obi welcomed aspirant Olumide Apata into the coalition  armed hoodlums attacked, injuring several people and stealing phones, laptops, and even bicycles. Some victims were reportedly hospitalized. Video footage circulated online shows chaos during the incident.

The attackers reportedly trailed the party members to former Governor John Oyegun’s residence, where former Governor Oserheimen Osunbor, Apata, ADC youth leaders, and other party members were gathered. The assailants opened fire, destroying the gate and vehicles outside, before retreating when operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) returned fire.

ADC officials have described the attack as a deliberate effort to weaken opposition, linking it to previous threats against Peter Obi by political actors, including Monday Okpebholo last July.

Contrastingly, a report suggests the attack may have originated from internal party disputes. In a short interview on AIT, some Edo ADC foundational members claimed they were sidelined, denied entry to Oyegun’s residence, while newcomers were given priority. Analysts suggest this may reflect a hierarchical conflict within the party, echoing previous Apapa-faction tensions in Edo State.

This latest incident underscores rising concerns over political violence in Nigeria, particularly against opposition members. The ADC insists that such attacks are attempts to intimidate and suppress their activities.

Meanwhile, tech experts have continued efforts to enhance electoral transparency. Seeing glitches in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) IREV system, developers launched Citizen Monitors, a real-time result surveillance platform that displays polling unit results up to the collation center with live aggregation, providing a digital situation room for election monitoring.

For more information, visit: Citizen Monitors.