A civil society group, the Leadership & Accountability Initiative, has submitted a formal petition to the United States Embassy in Abuja, urging it to impose a visa ban on Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his family.
The appeal follows what the group described as “state-backed threats” against former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The petition, dated Monday and obtained by SaharaReporters, alleged that Governor Okpebholo issued a threat against Obi’s safety and right to movement, reportedly saying on July 18, 2025, that Obi should not enter Edo State and if he did, “whatever he sees, he should take.”
The group condemned the statement, interpreting it as a direct threat to Obi’s life and political freedom.
They described the remarks as an attack on democratic principles, especially freedom of movement and political engagement by opposition figures.
The group said this development amounts to abuse of office and state-sponsored intimidation.
In the petition, the organisation cited similar incidents in which Obi was allegedly barred from other states, warning that such actions represent a growing trend of political repression that could endanger Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
The group also called on the U.S. government to impose travel restrictions and diplomatic sanctions on Okpebholo and his immediate family, arguing that such measures would discourage the misuse of power and political intimidation in Nigeria.
In part, the statement read:
“We write as concerned advocates for democratic governance and civil liberties in Nigeria. We wish to bring to your attention a serious threat to political coexistence made by the current Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, against Mr. Peter Obi, a former presidential candidate and notable opposition leader.
“On or around July 18, 2025, Governor Okpebholo issued a public threat warning Mr. Obi to stay out of Edo State or face consequences. Such language, in our view, constitutes a direct threat to Obi’s constitutional rights and reflects a disturbing pattern of political harassment and abuse of state power.”
The petition further highlighted a prior incident involving a different governor in a neighboring state who allegedly also barred Obi from entering for political reasons.
The group emphasized that such threats violate democratic principles and the Nigerian Constitution, especially Section 41, which guarantees every citizen the right to move freely and reside anywhere within the country.
They also referenced a Court of Appeal ruling in Faith Okafor v Lagos State Government (2016), which reaffirmed that governors lack the authority to restrict citizens’ movements without legal justification.
The organisation called on Governor Okpebholo to retract his comments and issue a public apology to Obi and Nigerians within seven days.
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