Published by Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Edo State Police Command has issued a strong disclaimer distancing its Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, from incendiary political remarks made by a man in a viral video circulating across social media platforms. In the explosive clip, an individual identified by the police as Emmanuel Eghogho, a self-styled comedian and aide to Governor Monday Okpebholo, is seen standing near the seated Commissioner and making crude threats against members of the African Democratic Congress. Speaking in Pidgin English, the aide boasted, “When we catch ADC people, we will hand them over to you, straight to Abuja. People like that Obi, idiot…” At several points during the tirade, the Commissioner of Police is shown smiling, an expression that critics have since seized upon as tacit approval of the verbal attack, which also labelled former presidential candidate Peter Obi a “stupid man.”
The video, which went viral on Friday, April 24, 2026, quickly ignited a firestorm of public outrage, with civil society groups, opposition figures and ordinary Nigerians questioning the neutrality and professionalism of the state’s top security officer. The police command responded hours later with a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, firmly rejecting any link between the Commissioner and the vulgar outburst. “The comments made in the video by the said Emmanuel Eghogho are entirely those of the individual and do not in any way reflect the views, position, or disposition of the Commissioner of Police or the Edo Police Command,” the statement read. The command insisted that at no point did CP Agbonika endorse, adopt, or align himself with the remarks, and that his presence at the event was purely in discharge of official duty.
The police statement further described Agbonika as “a thorough professional and a non-partisan officer committed to his constitutional duties.” It warned against attempts to misrepresent the video or drag security agencies into political commentary, while reminding political actors and their supporters to conduct themselves responsibly and avoid statements capable of undermining public peace. The disclaimer did not, however, explain why the Commissioner smiled during the exchange or why he did not publicly rebuke the aide on the spot, omissions that have fuelled further criticism from civil rights advocates.
Reactions to the viral video were swift and diverse. An online critic using the handle @Pheelzboi expressed outrage on X, writing: “So this man was smiling while his colleague referred to Peter Obi as an idiot, and also threatened to hand over members of ADC to them. Then he expects us to believe he has no connection with those comments? This is madness.” Businesswoman Sonia Adesuwa also publicly berated the governor’s aide, Egogo, for his conduct while questioning the Commissioner’s reaction. In a separate development, the 9NEWS NIGERIA South-South Bureau Chief, Amb. Emmalex David Atseyinku, called for the immediate transfer of CP Agbonika, citing his failure to publicly disassociate himself from the remarks. “The silence of the Commissioner on this matter raises serious concerns about the integrity, neutrality, and professionalism expected of his office,” Atseyinku said. “At a time when citizens rely on the police to uphold justice impartially, the Commissioner’s inaction sends the wrong message and risks eroding the credibility of the institution he represents.”
The video also reopened painful memories of a previous incident in Edo State. In late February 2026, Peter Obi and several other ADC chieftains were attacked by armed thugs at the party’s state secretariat in Benin City, with gunmen firing at Obi’s convoy. The ADC subsequently threatened to take the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the ECOWAS Court over what it described as “political terror.” Egogo, the aide captured in the latest viral video, had been identified in earlier local reports as having previously made threatening statements regarding Obi’s safety in Edo.
Public affairs analyst Nnamdi Idika, commenting on the police disclaimer, said that while the command could not be held responsible for the words of a private citizen, the Commissioner’s visible reaction in the video created an unfortunate impression. “A smile in such a context can be interpreted as acquiescence,” Idika told local reporters. “The police statement distances him in words, but the images do the opposite. That is the problem the command now faces.” The Edo State Government has not issued an official response to the video, and calls to the governor’s spokesperson went unanswered as of press time.
The incident has drawn attention to the fragile line between political loyalty and institutional neutrality. Critiques have pointed out that the Commissioner’s passive presence as vitriolic political speech unfolded around him, combined with the later formal disclaimer, illustrates the pressures security officials face in heavily partisan environments. The police command has since reaffirmed its commitment to impartiality, vowing to “remain steadfast in its commitment to maintaining peace, public safety, and the protection of democratic processes” across Edo State. It also urged the public to disregard any attempt to drag security agencies into partisan fray.
As the political atmosphere in Edo State heats up ahead of the 2027 general elections, the episode serves as a cautionary tale about the optics of law enforcement proximity to partisan outbursts. The police have spoken, but the smile remains frozen in a thousand screenshots, and for many Nigerians, that image is more memorable than any disclaimer.
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