PDP Condemns Brutal Attack, Public Humiliation of Obaseki’s Relative in Benin
Story: Written by Uzuh Rita December 29,2025
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned in the strongest terms the reported assault, forced undressing, and public humiliation of Dr. Pedro Agbonifo Obaseki, a cousin of former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, describing the incident as a deliberate act of political intimidation.
In a statement released late Sunday, Edo State PDP Publicity Secretary, Dan Osa-Ogbegie, alleged that the attack was orchestrated by youths linked to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The PDP said the incident took place on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at Uwa Primary School’s football field along Igbesamwan Street in Benin City, where Dr. Obaseki had gone to play football.
Reports suggest he was targeted over alleged disrespectful comments about the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II. Social media videos showed him being forcibly dragged from the field by a group towards the Oba’s Palace.
Osa-Ogbegie described the assault as premeditated, not spontaneous. “Dr. Obaseki was attacked by a mob, threatened with death, stripped, and dragged towards the Oba’s Palace,” he said. “The videos leave no doubt this was a brutal, uncivilised act.”
The PDP argued that the attackers’ actions contradict the values of the Benin Kingdom, which is historically associated with dignity, order, and respect for human life.
“Benin culture is rooted in respect and restraint. The perpetrators do not represent the kingdom and are a disgrace to its traditions,” the statement said.
The party emphasised that Dr. Obaseki is a respected figure whose work in academia and public advocacy poses no threat to public order. It rejected claims that the attack was justified to protect traditional institutions, insisting that legal processes, not mob justice, are the proper channels for addressing alleged offences.
“If a wrongdoing is suspected, the police—not street mobs—are responsible for enforcement. No one is above the law,” Osa-Ogbegie said.
Calling the attack a serious violation of the rule of law, the PDP urged the Edo State Police Commissioner to promptly identify, arrest, and prosecute those involved, regardless of political ties.
The party also accused the APC-led state government of enabling political violence through inaction, warning that such incidents harm Edo State’s reputation and undermine public trust.
Expressing solidarity with Dr. Obaseki and his family, the PDP demanded a clear denouncement of the assault by traditional authorities, an official explanation from the state government, and decisive measures to curb political thuggery and restore law and order.
