The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old man, Victor Edet Yellow Duke, over the assault on the convoy of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, in Calabar.
The assault, which occurred on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, round Watt Market Roundabout, reportedly left the windshields of some automobiles in Obi’s convoy broken.
The incident occurred at about 2:20 p.m. because the convoy was getting back from the palace of the Obong of Calabar to Metropolitan Hotel, venue of the social gathering’s presidential city corridor assembly.
According to the police, suspected hoodlums armed with machetes and sticks emerged from the Calabar Road and Clerks Alley axis and attacked automobiles within the convoy, smashing their windshields.
The actual variety of automobiles affected had but to be established as of the time of submitting this report.
Police operatives deployed within the space responded to the incident, utilizing tear gasoline to disperse the attackers and arrest one suspect, whereas others fled.
The arrested suspect was subsequently taken to the State Police Headquarters by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit for discreet investigation and to stop potential reprisals.
The police mentioned normalcy had been restored within the space.
The Commissioner of Police, Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, has directed an intensive investigation to determine and apprehend different individuals concerned within the assault and set up the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Command, nevertheless, cautioned that the arrest didn’t quantity to a dedication of guilt, stressing that the suspect remained entitled to the presumption of innocence pending the conclusion of investigations and any subsequent judicial proceedings.
It assured residents, political stakeholders and guests that satisfactory safety measures had been put in place to guard lives and property and make sure the peaceable conduct of political actions throughout the state.
The police additionally reiterated their dedication to offering equal safety safety to all political events, candidates and their supporters, regardless of political affiliation.
Despite the incident, Obi went forward to handle the city corridor assembly, the place he pledged to deal with insecurity, kidnapping and corruption, whereas prioritising nationwide unity, training, healthcare and residents’ welfare if elected president.
He mentioned Nigeria’s incapability to realize nationwide unity had weakened its capability to confront insecurity.
“Our commitment is to unite Nigeria. Nigeria today is not united. If we unite Nigeria today, we will have the strength to fight insecurity,” he mentioned.
On kidnapping and assaults on schoolchildren, the previous Anambra State governor vowed that his administration would pursue perpetrators into their hideouts.
“Anybody that kidnaps schoolchildren and goes into the bush, we will be in that bush with him, wherever it is. We are not scared of him,” he mentioned.
Obi additionally promised to confront corruption, insisting that public funds have to be deployed for the good thing about residents quite than private enrichment.
“We will fight corruption head-on. We want people to stop stealing public money. Public money must be used for public good and for the welfare of the people,” he mentioned.
He additional pledged elevated funding in training and healthcare, describing the sectors as essential to nationwide improvement.
The NDC candidate mentioned his political partnership represented a special method to governance, anchored on shared duty and nationwide transformation.
“We represent a new Nigeria that is possible. We represent a governance that people have not seen in Nigeria before,” he mentioned.
Obi defined that the city corridor assembly was organised to present residents a chance to ask questions, categorical issues and freely touch upon points affecting them.
“The style is to listen to you. You are free to ask any question. No restriction. Make any comment. That is why we are here,” he mentioned.
