Nigeria, July 23 -- The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo's recent remarks advising the Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to notify him before visiting the state.

Messrs Okpebholo and Wike spoke at the launch of the new Edo Line mass transit buses in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Tuesday.

"What I said was a simple advice. I told him not to visit Edo without informing me. As chief security officer, it's a basic protocol.

"If asking him to notify me is considered a crime, so be it. I have no regrets," Mr Okpebholo said, amid backlash from critics who earlier described the remarks as illegal, reckless and inflammatory.

Mr Wike also d...