Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, was on Tuesday prevented from proceeding to Yelwata in Benue State after youths barricaded the Gboko Road in Makurdi, accusing him of attempting to enter the state without the state government’s approval.
The protesters, who blocked the road near the Nigerian Air Force Base and Makurdi Airport, were heard chanting, “We don’t want Peter Obi,” as Obi’s convoy was held up for hours, disrupting movement along the route.
Obi had traveled to the state to visit victims of the killings in Yelwata, a community in Guma Local Government Area, and console with affected families.
Speaking at the scene in a video shared by News Central Television on Tuesday, the former Anambra State governor alleged that the youths were mobilized by a government aide to prevent him from reaching his destination.
“I was told that youths, led by an SA (Special Assistant) to the government, have decided to block the road and make sure I don’t go there,” he said.
Obi condemned the development, describing it as unacceptable and accusing political actors of exploiting young people facing poverty and insecurity.
“The rascality they are bringing into this country is totally unacceptable. People are being killed every day in Benue. People want to show that they are with them, and I came here all the way this morning, a long distance, only to be told what you are seeing here,” he said.
He added that the youths involved in the blockade were also victims of the conditions they were being used to perpetuate.
“These youths are being used to do this. What they are doing now will come back to bite them. They don’t know that. And unfortunately, somebody sits in the office and allows this to happen,” he said.
Obi also insisted that the state government was aware of his planned visit.
“Everybody is aware I’m visiting this place today. It’s not a secret to them,” he said.
Reacting to the incident, Benue State Commissioner for Information, Solomon Iorpev, said Obi was “courting trouble” by repeatedly visiting the state without formally notifying the government.
Iorpev said that Obi, as a former governor and high-profile political figure, was entitled to security protection from the host state but should have formally notified the government of his visit.
“A high-profile person who has been a former governor of a state is coming into the state; he should have written a letter to the State Government,” he said.
The commissioner added, “We are supposed to guarantee his safety and protection, but in an instance where no letter was written, we could not guarantee his safety. This is not the first time he has done this. He is just looking for our trouble. We are peace-loving and hospitable people.”
Iorpev, however, denied knowledge of those responsible for the blockade and said the incident could have resulted from the movement of youths from different parts of the state.
“So, if they were coming from either Tarka, Gboko, Buruku, Ushongo, Konshisha, or Vandeikya at the same time as his visit and blocked the road, it is unfortunate. I do not know the youths who did that,” the commissioner said.
The state government’s position was also echoed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Kula Tersoo, who said the government was unaware of Obi’s visit.
“Our government doesn’t patronize thugs, and in any case, Obi is not a threat to the governor. We are not aware that Obi is coming to Benue. I am hearing it from you,” Tersoo said.
The Benue State Police Command, however, confirmed that it was aware of Obi’s movement to Yelwata and that its personnel provided security for his convoy.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Peter Aondongu, said the circumstances surrounding the blockade remained unclear.
“We can confirm that the Police are aware of the incident involving Peter Obi’s movement to Yelwata. Police operatives provided security for the movement.
“The reason the convoy was blocked by some youths is still unknown. We are monitoring the situation and investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Further updates will be provided accordingly,” Aondongu said.
The development has therefore created conflicting accounts over whether the state government was informed of Obi’s visit. While the government maintained that it was not notified, the police confirmed that security agencies were aware of the movement.
Prof. Terhemba Shija, the NDC governorship candidate in Benue, also said Obi’s team had informed the police and Department of State Services (DSS) of the visit.
He questioned why a presidential candidate could be stopped from visiting victims of the Yelwata killings after security agencies had been notified.
Obi’s planned visit was to take him to Yelwata, which suffered a deadly attack in June 2025 that claimed scores of lives and displaced residents.
Reports from the scene said the youths, some carrying sticks, blocked the route from the airport into Makurdi, forcing the convoy to halt. Obi eventually abandoned the trip and returned to Abuja.
The incident was the second reported disruption of an Obi visit to Benue. Premium Times reported that Governor Alia had blocked Obi’s previous visit to an internally displaced persons’ camp in April 2025, citing security and protocol concerns.
The incident has also drawn reactions from opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
NDC vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, condemned the blockade, describing it as a threat to democratic freedoms and urging the Benue State Government to identify and prosecute those responsible.
“Authorities must remember that the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of movement. This right applies even more strongly to Mr Obi, a former governor and leading opposition figure,” he said.
Kwankwaso also urged President Bola Tinubu to caution state governors against actions that could undermine democratic rights and called on international observers to take note of the incident.
The African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, also condemned the incident, describing it as an apparent sponsored blockade and attack on Obi.
“I have watched videos showing what appears to be a sponsored blockade and attack on NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi as he attempted to enter the state capital to carry out legitimate campaign activities. I strongly condemn these acts of political brigandage,” Sowore said.
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