The Benue State Government has said it was not informed of the visit of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, to the state on Tuesday. Obi was in Benue for engagements and a planned visit to Yelewata, where he was expected to meet families affected by the deadly June 2025 attack. His convoy was, however, blocked by some youths along Gboko Road in Makurdi, preventing him from proceeding.
Reacting to the incident, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Terna Kula, stated that the state government had no prior knowledge of Obi’s visit. He said if security agents had stopped him, it would have been easy to determine what happened. Kula noted that as a presidential candidate and former governor, Obi is a property of the Federal Government and ought to have been given security, questioning the whereabouts of the security agents around him. He added that the security of the host state should know when such a visitor is coming so as to provide protection.
The governor’s spokesman rejected suggestions that the youths who blocked Obi’s convoy were acting on behalf of the state government. According to him, the Alia administration does not patronise thugs and there was no reason for the government to consider Obi a threat. He expressed surprise that youths would stop someone and maintained that the government was not aware Obi was coming to Benue.
Meanwhile, the NDC governorship candidate in Benue State, Prof. Terhemba Shija, said security agencies were formally notified of Obi’s visit. Speaking by telephone, Shija stated that Obi was heading to Yelewata to meet families of those killed in the June 2025 attack and that the police and Department of State Services had deployed personnel for the visit. He questioned whether a presidential candidate needed permission from the state government before visiting, noting that INEC had lifted the ban on campaigns. Shija described the blockade as a demonstration of fear and a clear indication that Obi is the man to watch, asking why anyone would stop a legitimate candidate after official notice had been given to the Commissioner of Police and the DSS.
The Benue State Police Command confirmed that it was aware of Obi’s movement and provided security for the visit. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, said the reason the convoy was blocked by some youths remains unknown. He added that the police are monitoring the situation and investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, with further updates to be provided.
