Benue govt denies blocking Peter Obi, says allegation is unfounded

The Benue State Government has denied allegations by Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, that thugs allegedly working for the state government blocked his convoy from accessing Yelewata community.

Obi had said his convoy encountered youths who mounted a roadblock on the Makurdi-Gboko Federal Highway while he was travelling to Yelewata to sympathise with families affected by the 2025 attacks in the community.

However, the state government, in a statement issued by Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, denied involvement in the incident and described Obi’s claim as unfounded.

Kula said the allegation appeared to be an attempt to drag the governor and the state government into what could be an internal political disagreement within the NDC.

“We wish to emphatically deny that the government of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has an idea of what Mr. Obi is talking about,” Kula said.

The government also questioned whether Obi visited Makurdi on Tuesday, citing what it described as his previous instances of making untrue claims against the state.

It said Obi did not pose any threat to Governor Alia, adding that even if there were security concerns surrounding his movement, recognised security agencies, rather than thugs, would be responsible for addressing them.

The state government maintained that Alia’s administration was committed to peace and the rule of law and did not “engage, patronize, or deploy thugs as instruments of governance or security.”

It said the governor relied on recognised security agencies to maintain peace and order across the state.

The government also questioned the circumstances surrounding Obi’s visit, saying it was unusual for a presidential candidate to enter the state without formally informing relevant security authorities of his movement.

According to the statement, such a visit would ordinarily require security coordination involving the Commissioner of Police and other relevant agencies.

“If Mr. Obi is confronted with disagreements or internal political challenges within his party structure in Benue State, those issues should be resolved within the party rather than being conveniently transferred to the State Government,” the statement said.

The state government said the Alia administration would not be distracted by what it described as attempts to create political controversies, insisting that its focus remained on governance, security and the welfare of residents.

It urged the public to disregard allegations linking the state government to the incident involving Obi.

Earlier, Obi had called for a non-violent campaign ahead of the 2027 general elections and urged young Nigerians not to allow themselves to be used as instruments by politicians.

Speaking to journalists in Makurdi after the incident, Obi said his convoy was blocked while he was heading to Yelewata to sympathise with families affected by the killings.

“It is ridiculous. Our experience this morning is very very worrisome. We arrived Makurdi at 9 AM, but on our way to the Yelewata community, to console and show solidarity with the family affected by the killings of over 270 persons in that community, and support them in any way I can, only to be blocked by thugs shouting, ‘Peter Obi go back!. Peter Obi go back!’”

Obi said he chose not to force his way through the blockade because doing so could cause confusion and endanger other people.

He appealed to the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies to intervene, saying, “This rascality cannot be allowed.”

“We can not go on this way. This is unacceptable,” Obi said.

The development came after a similar incident last year, when the Benue State Government barred Obi from visiting internally displaced persons in the state without express approval.