The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly condemned the alleged assault, forced stripping and public humiliation of Dr Pedro Agbonifo Obaseki, a cousin of former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, describing the incident as a calculated act of political violence.
In a statement issued late Sunday, the Edo State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Dan Osa-Ogbegie, alleged that the attack was carried out by youths identified as supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the party, the incident occurred on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at the football field of Uwa Primary School, along Igbesamwan Street in Benin City, where Dr Obaseki had gone to play football.
The PDP said reports indicated that Dr Obaseki was attacked following allegations that he made disrespectful remarks about the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II. Video clips circulating on social media were said to show the victim being dragged from the football field by a group of individuals and forced in the direction of the Oba’s Palace.
Reacting to the incident, Osa-Ogbegie described the assault as premeditated rather than a spontaneous outburst.
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“Dr Obaseki was accosted by a mob, harassed, threatened with death, stripped naked and forcibly dragged towards the Palace of the Oba of Benin,” he said.
“The videos circulating leave no room for doubt. This was barbarism in its rawest form—evil, uncivilised and utterly repugnant.”
The PDP stressed that the actions of the attackers were inconsistent with the values and traditions of the Benin Kingdom, which it said is historically known for dignity, order and respect for human life.
“Benin civilization is renowned for dignity, restraint and respect for human worth. The hooligans who carried out this atrocity do not speak for Benin and are a disgrace to its culture,” the statement added.
The party described Dr Obaseki as a respected son of Benin, noting that his academic work, media engagements and public advocacy have contributed positively to society. It insisted that he posed no threat to public order or communal harmony.
The PDP also rejected attempts to justify the attack under the guise of defending traditional institutions, stressing that no custom, palace or tradition sanctions mob action, torture or degrading treatment.
“If an offence is alleged, the police station, not the street, is the lawful venue. No mob, political gang or individual is above the law,” Osa-Ogbegie said, adding that the incident represented “a dangerous inversion of justice that strikes at the heart of the rule of law.”
Describing the incident as a grave violation of fundamental human rights, the party called on the Edo State Commissioner of Police to immediately identify, arrest and prosecute all those involved, regardless of their political affiliations.
The PDP further accused the APC-led government in the state of tacitly encouraging political violence through silence, warning that such incidents tarnish Edo State’s image and undermine public confidence in governance and security.
Expressing sympathy to Dr Obaseki and his family, the party demanded a clear disassociation from the incident by relevant traditional institutions, a public explanation from the state government and security agencies, and concrete measures to curb political thuggery and restore law and order in Edo State.