Tension rose in Edo State on Friday as a re-election campaign event organised by the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Osamwonyi Atu, was disrupted by angry youths in his constituency.
The lawmaker, who represents Orhionmwon East, had arrived in Abudu, the administrative headquarters of Orhionmwon Local Government Area, to flag off his campaign.
However, the event quickly turned chaotic as hundreds of youths flooded major roads in protest.
The protesters, said to be operating under the banner of Concerned Orhionmwon East Youths, openly rejected the campaign rally. They insisted that the lawmaker had failed to deliver on key promises made during the 2023 elections. Their anger was visible, as they carried placards and chanted slogans across the town.
Some of the demonstrators accused Atu of abandoning pressing issues in the area. They pointed to the lingering electricity problem, which they claimed has lasted for over 15 years. They also raised concerns about an incomplete comprehensive school project, which they said remains a major disappointment to residents.
The protest created a tense atmosphere in Abudu. Movement was restricted in some parts of the town as youths took over strategic locations. Residents watched as the situation unfolded, with security presence reportedly increased to prevent escalation.
Reacting to the development, the embattled Deputy Speaker dismissed the claims made by the protesters. He linked the unrest to backlash from individuals unhappy with the Assembly’s recent anti-cultism law.
According to him, “Those protesting are pained by the anti-cultism law. The law has come to stay.”
Also speaking, the Coordinator of the Osamwonyi Atu Campaign Organisation, Martins Ozakpolor, alleged that the protest was politically motivated. He claimed that a rival aspirant sponsored the disruption in an attempt to tarnish the lawmaker’s image ahead of the elections.
Ozakpolor insisted that Atu has made visible impact in the constituency. He cited the construction of a comprehensive school as one of the projects executed by the lawmaker, countering claims by the protesters.
Despite the disruption, the campaign team maintained that the visit was not entirely unsuccessful. According to Ozakpolor, Atu was received by members of the Abudu Elders Council, who offered prayers in support of his re-election ambition.