A civil rights group, the Leadership and Accountability Initiative, has called on the US Embassy in Nigeria to ban Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo and his family members from getting the country’s visa.
They have sent a formal petition highlighting their demand to the embassy.
The letter, dated July 21, 2025, anchored the group’s demand on the governor’s controversial statement asking politician, Peter Obi, to obtain permission from him before visiting Edo in his own interest.
Okpebholo made the statement on July 18 at a political rally in Edo State.
The governor queried the ₦150 million donation Obi made in the state, insinuating that it was a ploy to buy supporters.
In their petition, the group insisted such statements by the governor amounted to state-sanctioned intimidation and abuse of office.
They claimed that it was also a threat to the democratic stability of Nigeria.
The group argued that it was anti-democratic to issue a threat to a citizen with a view to curtailing his movement or frustrating his political participation.
The petition called for travel restrictions on Okpebholo and his family to deter other political leaders from being oppressive
The petition called for the slamming of travel restrictions and diplomatic sanctions on Okpebholo and his family as a deterrent against political repression.
It would be recalled that Mr Okpebholo’s controversial statement attracted wide condemnation from across the country.
However, the chairman of the All Progressives Party in the state backed him up. He argued that the statement was made in the interest of Peter Obi.
He said Obi was hated by many people in Edo, including himself, and that Obi would not be safe if he did not communicate ahead before coming into the state.
