The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old man in connection with the attack on the convoy of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in Calabar.
The suspect, identified as Victor Edet Yellow Duke, was arrested following a police intervention after suspected hoodlums attacked the convoy around Watt Market Roundabout on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, the incident occurred at about 2:20 p.m. as Obi’s convoy returned from the palace of the Obong of Calabar and headed to Metropolitan Hotel, venue of the party’s presidential town hall meeting.
The police said the suspected attackers, armed with machetes and sticks, emerged from the Calabar Road and Clerks Alley axis and descended on vehicles in the convoy, smashing their windshields. The exact number of vehicles affected is yet to be established.
Police personnel deployed around the area responded to contain the situation. The intervention, which involved the use of tear gas, led to the arrest of the 27-year-old suspect, while other alleged attackers fled.
The arrested suspect was subsequently transferred to the State Police Headquarters by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit for investigation and to prevent any possible reprisal or further breakdown of law and order. The Command says normalcy has since returned to the area.
The Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, has directed a thorough investigation to identify and apprehend other persons who may have participated in the attack and establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Command has also clarified that the arrest does not amount to a determination of guilt, stressing that the suspect remains entitled to the presumption of innocence pending the conclusion of investigations and any subsequent judicial proceedings.
Meanwhile, Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has condemned the attack, describing it as unacceptable and contrary to the state’s longstanding reputation for peace, hospitality and civil harmony.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Linus Obogo, the governor expressed sympathy to Obi and members of his entourage, saying the incident was inconsistent with the values of Cross River people and the peaceful exercise of political rights.
Governor Otu reaffirmed his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on political violence and criminality, disclosing that he had directed security agencies to leave no stone unturned in identifying and bringing all those responsible to justice.
He also assured political parties and candidates of the state’s commitment to providing a safe environment for lawful political activities, irrespective of political affiliation.
The NDC has equally condemned the attack, describing it as a threat to democratic participation and calling for the investigation and prosecution of those responsible.
In a statement signed by its National Presidential Campaign Council spokesperson, Dr. Chiogo Constance Ikokwu, the party said no member of Obi’s delegation was injured in the incident.
The NDC also recalled a similar incident in Benue State, where Obi’s convoy reportedly encountered a roadblock mounted by a mob along the Makurdi-Gboko Federal Highway, near the Nigerian Air Force Base.
The party called on the Cross River State Government and security agencies to act decisively, warning that silence or inaction in the face of political violence could embolden perpetrators.
It maintained that political participation must not be accompanied by threats or intimidation, insisting that attacks on candidates and their supporters undermine the democratic process.
The Cross River State Police Command has assured residents, political stakeholders and visitors that adequate security measures remain in place to protect lives and property. It also reiterated its commitment to providing equal security protection to all political parties, candidates and their supporters across the state.
Magdalene Eyoma
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