THE Cross River State Government has denied allegations that supporters of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) attacked the motorcade of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), during his visit to Calabar on Wednesday.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Ekpenyong Cobham, stated this in Calabar on Thursday, describing the allegation as false and misleading. He argued that the incident resulted from an internal disagreement among some NDC supporters rather than a politically motivated attack by APC members.
Cobham claimed that some of those involved were allegedly dissatisfied with the party because they felt used and abandoned, adding that the individuals involved were seen openly displaying NDC flags.
“That is not APC. That is not our character. That is not our conduct,” he said. He challenged those making the allegations to provide credible evidence to substantiate their claims, while urging security agencies to investigate the incident and identify those responsible.
The commissioner also called on political actors to avoid exploiting the development to create tension in the state, adding that the administration of Governor Bassey Otu remained committed to peace, political tolerance and issue-based campaigns.
The ICIR reports that the Obi’s motorcade was attacked on Wednesday during his visit to the state for a townhall meeting. In a video circulating online, Obi said the attackers began throwing stones at his convoy after sighting NDC supporters.
He said the incident forced his team to consider taking another route, stressing that he wanted to come down and meet the people, but the attackers eventually fled after seeing what was happening.
He described the incident as an indication of the political intolerance Nigerians must reject ahead of the 2027 general election.
Despite the incident, Obi was present at the NDC presidential town hall meeting in the state.
The engagement was part of his political consultations and interactions with residents and stakeholders ahead of the 2027 general election.
Responding to the attack, the Cross River State Police Command said a group of suspected hoodlums armed with machetes and sticks emerged from the Calabar Road and Clerks Alley axis and attacked vehicles in Obi’s convoy.
The police said that the attackers smashed the windscreens of some vehicles, and exact number of vehicles damaged had yet to be established.
The police confirmed that officers deployed around Watt Market intervened and fired tear gas to disperse the attackers but one suspect, identified as Victor Edet Duke, 27, was arrested.
Duke was transferred to the State Police Headquarters by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit for investigation.
The Commissioner of Police, Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, directed a comprehensive investigation to identify other suspects and establish the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues. She has documented sexual war crimes in armed conflict, sex for grades in Nigerian Universities, harmful traditional practices and human trafficking.