Blood on the Ballot: APC Chairmanship Aspirant Ojo Odia Assassinated in Cold Blood in Edo State

The streets of Ehor ran with fear on September 13, 2021, as political violence claimed another victim in Edo State’s escalating crisis. Mr. Ojo Odia, a vibrant aspirant seeking to contest for the position of Uhunmwode Local Government Chairman under the All Progressive Congress (APC), was brutally assassinated in what sources have described as a targeted, politically motivated killing.

The attack occurred at Odia’s residence, 16 Osasere Street, off Edegbe Street, Ehor, where unknown gunmen stormed the compound under the cover of night. Neighbours reported hearing rapid gunfire and screams before the attackers fled, leaving Odia lifeless in a pool of his own blood.

Odia’s murder has sent shockwaves through the community, igniting fear and anger among supporters who saw him as a beacon of hope and change in a region plagued by political stagnation. According to sources within the APC, Odia’s growing popularity and unwavering stance on community development and transparent governance made him a target for enemies of progress.

“The opposition is hell-bent on silencing anyone not on their side,” a party insider confided under the condition of anonymity. “Odia refused to play dirty politics or bow to threats. They saw his courage as a threat, so they took his life.”

The assassination is widely believed to be linked to his refusal to align with rival interests seeking to control the political landscape of Uhunmwode LGA by force and fear. Odia’s murder, just days before the APC’s primary, has plunged the party into mourning while exposing the ruthless desperation of power players who will stop at nothing to eliminate competition.

Local residents described Odia as a man of the people, a candidate who walked the dusty roads of Ehor speaking with market women, youth, and elders about change. His death, they said, is not just a personal loss but a tragic blow to a community yearning for leadership that listens and serves.

“This is a direct attack on democracy,” a community elder stated, visibly shaken. “How can we vote if candidates are killed before elections? How can our voices be heard when bullets speak louder than the ballot?”

Calls are mounting for the Edo State Government and security agencies to launch a swift and uncompromising investigation to unmask and prosecute those behind this heinous act. Human rights activists warn that if Odia’s killers are not brought to justice, it will embolden further violence, threatening the survival of free and fair elections in Edo State.

As the family of Ojo Odia mourns in shattered silence, the people of Ehor and Uhunmwode LGA are left with a chilling message: in the deadly terrain of Nigerian politics, courage often meets a violent end.

For a community desperate for change, the death of Ojo Odia is a stark reminder that in Edo State, democracy is under siege—and the cost of contesting for a better tomorrow may be paid with one’s life.