Manny Ita –
Tension escalated in Edo State after gunshots were fired at the residence of former governor John Odigie-Oyegun amid a deepening crisis within the state chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Hoodlums suspected to be loyal to one of the feuding factions reportedly attacked the property, riddling the gate with bullets and heightening fears of a total breakdown of order within the party.
The incident followed a disputed meeting scheduled to hold at Oyegun’s residence, which several prominent party figures said they were prevented from attending. Among those reportedly shut out were former Chief Whip of the Senate Rowland Owie, party financier Sunny Aguebor, and Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) national leader Douglas Iyike. Sources said the former governor had drawn up a list of invited participants, and those whose names were not included were denied entry upon arrival.
The exclusion sparked outrage among the aggrieved members, who allegedly gathered at the entrance of the compound in protest, accusing Oyegun of sidelining founding members while engaging individuals they described as non-members. The confrontation reportedly intensified tensions between rival factions that have been struggling for control of the party structure in the state.
Addressing journalists at the scene, Owie called on the national leadership of the party to intervene and restrain Oyegun. He said, “We that are here, are founding members of the ADC, we are supposed to have a meeting today, Chief John Oyegun who has not done anything to support the party in this state is calling non-members to a meeting and excluding those who are statutory members.”
Owie further alleged that efforts to convene senatorial meetings had repeatedly been obstructed. “As a matter of fact, the senatorial meeting was to be called up to four or five times, he stopped it, he will postpone it. As we are talking, we have been everywhere in this state, especially here in Edo South where we are right now raising members for the party, ask him how many people he has attracted to this party,” he said.
He also accused the former governor of a pattern of disregard for party stakeholders, adding, “We are telling the National leadership of the party that enough is enough of John Oyegun, this was how he was as the National Chairman of the APC and he was removed with ease, enough is enough, he cannot disrespect those who are building the party.”
As tensions mounted, the situation reportedly deteriorated into violence when unidentified gunmen attacked the residence, triggering what witnesses described as a gun duel in the vicinity. Security agencies had yet to issue an official statement at the time of filing this report, and there were no confirmed reports of casualties.
The incident underscores the severity of the factional crisis rocking the Edo ADC, raising concerns about internal party stability and the potential for further unrest if decisive intervention is not undertaken by national leaders.
