President Tinubu Bypasses APC Edo Governorship Rally Amid Violence

The All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial campaign kickoff in Benin City, Edo State, slated for Saturday, July 20, 2024, has been marred by violent clashes on Thursday.

President Bola Tinubu, who was expected to attend and support APC gubernatorial candidate Senator Monday Okpebholo, has opted out of the event. Instead, he will be traveling to Ghana for the African Union’s (AU) sixth mid-year coordination meeting.

The violence erupted upon the arrival of Okpebholo and the embattled deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, at Benin City Airport. The chaos resulted in the death of Inspector Okon, a police orderly assigned to Senator Okpebholo.

Presidential sources indicated that despite efforts to secure the President’s attendance at the APC rally, the violent incident and the subsequent death of the police officer led Tinubu to reconsider his visit.

“A lot of effort was made to have the President briefly stop by for the APC rally in Benin,” a source disclosed. “However, the violence and particularly the death of a police officer solidified his decision not to attend.”