Inside Edo
Edo APC Leaders' controversial celebration of assault on UK-based critic sparks outrage
Written By: Ehioze Gilbert
24 Nov 2025 12:45 PM
Benin, Edo – In a shocking display of political bravado, leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State have publicly celebrated a physical assault on Albert Obazee, a prominent UK-based social critic and Edo native, by pledging one million naira (N1M) to the assailant during a gathering in Benin City.
The incident, dubbed a "digital slap" by the jubilant crowd, has ignited widespread condemnation across social media and political circles, raising serious questions about the party's commitment to democratic discourse and non-violence.
The celebration unfolded on Sunday, November 23, at an APC event in Benin City, where party chieftains gathered amid cheers and hymns.
A viral video circulating on X (formerly Twitter) captures the moment attendees break into song with lyrics like "What a Mighty God We Serve," interspersed with chants praising the assault as a fitting response to Obazee's online criticisms of the Edo government. They announced N1 million pledge to the attacker, framing the slap as the ultimate "digital slap" against the critic's keyboard activism.
Obazee, a vocal online commentator known for his sharp critiques of Governor Monday Okpebholo's administration, was assaulted eight days earlier on November 16 in Manchester, United Kingdom. The attack occurred during a livestreamed event, where Obazee was reportedly confronted by "Double Chief" Erewele, a Manchester-based Edo figure with whom he had been locked in a heated online feud.
Video footage from the incident shows Obazee being slapped across the face as he streamed, prompting immediate chaos and attempts by the assailant to flee the venue. Eyewitness accounts and social media posts suggest the confrontation stemmed from months of escalating tensions, including Obazee's accusations of corruption and mismanagement in Edo State politics.
The APC's response has drawn sharp rebukes.
This is not the first clash involving Obazee. As early as June 2025, an APC chieftain publicly accused him of promoting "hate speeches" and "violence" from his UK base, urging restraint in his social media activism.
The critic's supporters, however, view him as a truth-teller exposing governance failures in Edo, a state plagued by intra-party rivalries ahead of upcoming elections.
Edo APC spokespersons have yet to issue an official comment on the celebration, but the office of governor Monday Okpebholo, has reportedly expressed interest in hosting the assailant upon his return to Nigeria a move criticized as a "misplaced priority" amid pressing local issues like infrastructure decay in areas such as Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
Local voices, including X user @zaddyofbenin, a vocal advocate for grassroots development have tied the incident to broader governance woes. In a pointed post, he remarked, "These are the people spearheading my local govt and you think Orhionmwon will ever leave the trenches."
The comment, quoting the viral celebration video underscores frustrations in rural Edo communities where poverty persists despite political fanfare.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of Nigeria's fraught digital-political landscape, where online feuds can spill into real-world violence, and partisan loyalty sometimes trumps civility.
The incident, dubbed a "digital slap" by the jubilant crowd, has ignited widespread condemnation across social media and political circles, raising serious questions about the party's commitment to democratic discourse and non-violence.
The celebration unfolded on Sunday, November 23, at an APC event in Benin City, where party chieftains gathered amid cheers and hymns.
A viral video circulating on X (formerly Twitter) captures the moment attendees break into song with lyrics like "What a Mighty God We Serve," interspersed with chants praising the assault as a fitting response to Obazee's online criticisms of the Edo government. They announced N1 million pledge to the attacker, framing the slap as the ultimate "digital slap" against the critic's keyboard activism.
Obazee, a vocal online commentator known for his sharp critiques of Governor Monday Okpebholo's administration, was assaulted eight days earlier on November 16 in Manchester, United Kingdom. The attack occurred during a livestreamed event, where Obazee was reportedly confronted by "Double Chief" Erewele, a Manchester-based Edo figure with whom he had been locked in a heated online feud.
Video footage from the incident shows Obazee being slapped across the face as he streamed, prompting immediate chaos and attempts by the assailant to flee the venue. Eyewitness accounts and social media posts suggest the confrontation stemmed from months of escalating tensions, including Obazee's accusations of corruption and mismanagement in Edo State politics.
The APC's response has drawn sharp rebukes.
This is not the first clash involving Obazee. As early as June 2025, an APC chieftain publicly accused him of promoting "hate speeches" and "violence" from his UK base, urging restraint in his social media activism.
The critic's supporters, however, view him as a truth-teller exposing governance failures in Edo, a state plagued by intra-party rivalries ahead of upcoming elections.
Edo APC spokespersons have yet to issue an official comment on the celebration, but the office of governor Monday Okpebholo, has reportedly expressed interest in hosting the assailant upon his return to Nigeria a move criticized as a "misplaced priority" amid pressing local issues like infrastructure decay in areas such as Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
Local voices, including X user @zaddyofbenin, a vocal advocate for grassroots development have tied the incident to broader governance woes. In a pointed post, he remarked, "These are the people spearheading my local govt and you think Orhionmwon will ever leave the trenches."
The comment, quoting the viral celebration video underscores frustrations in rural Edo communities where poverty persists despite political fanfare.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of Nigeria's fraught digital-political landscape, where online feuds can spill into real-world violence, and partisan loyalty sometimes trumps civility.
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