Senator Owie speaking at the ADC Secretariat after receiving Akpata to the party,
A former Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Rowland Owie, has denied playing any role in the attacks on some leaders and members of his political coalition—the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday at the residence of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and the ADC secretariat, both in Benin City.
It will be recalled that suspected hoodlums, in a commando style, had attacked the ADC secretariat along Ogbelaka and Oyegun’s residence on Reservation Road where the leader of Obedient Movement, and former Labour Party presidential candidate—Peter Obi, along with Chief Oyegun, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, himself and other ADC leaders were meeting.
Reacting to allegations in certain quarters that he promoted the shootings at the ADC events, Senator Owie stressed that he will not tarnish a four-decade legacy now.
”In all my political life since 1979, when I was first elected into the House of Representatives, I have never been involved in violent politics.
‘I have built a career on dialogue, legislative integrity, and service. I would not begin to tarnish a four-decade legacy now.
“To suggest I would sponsor an attack on a gathering where my own brother, Chief Oyegun, and respected colleagues like Peter Obi were present is not just a lie—it is an insult to the intelligence of the Edo people.”
Senator Owie added that he has zerore tolerance for violence. “The ADC remains a party of peace and intellectual engagement. We refuse to be drawn into the trenches of thuggery.
“We call on the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Monday Agbonika and relevant security agencies to investigate the identified elements who disrupted the gathering, rather than entertaining fabricated petitions.”
Midwest Herald had earlier reported that, few minutes after Odigie-Oyegun, Owie, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, Prof Osunbor and other Edo State ADC leaders received the 2024 Edo State governorship candidate of the LP, Olumide Akpata, into the party, some suspected gun-wielding thugs stormed the ADC Secretariat, shooting three members, and vandalised the party’s property.
Not done, the suspected thugs moved over to the residence of Odigie-Oyegun, where the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was hosting Obi, Akpata and others, shooting sporadically, they destroyed several vehicles in the vicinity of the house.
Speaking to the press shortly after the attacks, Odigie-Oyegun, linked the incident to the threat by Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, that Obi must obtain permission from the state government before venturing into Edo State.
However, others blamed the attack on the residence of the elder statesman on the incident which occurred at Odigie-Oyegun’s residence, earlier on Monday February 23, 2026, when Owie and other chieftains of the ADC barricaded Oyegun’s gate after they were locked out of a meeting held within the premises.
Owie, and other ADC leaders who were prevented form participating in the meeting, had protested the lockout by laying siege to Odigie-Oyegun’s gate until a detachment of policemen from the Edo State Police Command came and persuaded them to leave.
Owie and others that protested last Monday were all present at the ADC secretariat and also in
