Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has explained that his visit to Benue State was primarily to sympathise with victims of recent killings, following the reported blockade of his convoy by youths in Makurdi.
Obi arrived in the state on Tuesday and was heading towards Yelwata to visit families affected by the deadly attack in the community when his movement was disrupted along the Gboko-Makurdi Expressway. The police confirmed that officers were providing security for the visit but said the reason for the blockade remained unclear.
Speaking about the incident, Obi said he was not visiting Benue for partisan politics but to identify with families who had lost loved ones.
“I came here not for partisan politics, but to condole with the people and see the families that lost their loved ones,” Obi said.
He also alleged that some youths had been mobilised to prevent him from reaching the affected community. According to him, he was informed that a government aide was behind the mobilisation, although the allegation has not been independently established.
The incident has triggered political reactions, with questions being raised about political tolerance, security arrangements and the freedom of opposition candidates to move across states ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Benue State Government, however, said it was not aware of Obi’s visit. Governor Hyacinth Alia’s Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, said the government did not sponsor youths to obstruct Obi and described the former governor as posing no threat to the state administration.
The police have commenced an investigation to determine what led to the confrontation and identify those responsible for the blockade.
Obi’s visit comes against the backdrop of persistent insecurity in Benue, including the Yelwata attack of June 2025, which claimed numerous lives. The former Anambra governor has increasingly made insecurity, governance and the welfare of displaced communities central to his political messaging ahead of the 2027 election.
