The planned All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial campaign flag-off event in Benin City, Edo State, scheduled for this Saturday, July 20, 2024, has been overshadowed by violent clashes that occurred in the State on Thursday.
President Bola Tinubu, who was expected to attend the rally and lend his support to the APC gubernatorial candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has decided to skip the event. Instead, the President will be travelling to Ghana to attend the sixth mid-year coordination meeting of the African Union (AU).
The violence erupted on Thursday when Okpebholo and the embattled deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, arrived at the Benin City Airport. The ensuing violence resulted in the death of Inspector Okon, a police orderly attached to Senator Okpebholo.
Sources within the Presidency revealed that while efforts were made to have the President attend the APC mega rally in Benin City, the violent incident, which led to the death of the police officer ultimately made Tinubu to reconsider his planned visit.
“I am aware that efforts were made to get the President to make a quick stop at Benin for the APC mega rally,” the source said. “But the fighting and especially the death of a police officer helped the President make up his mind. He will not be coming.”
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