The presidential candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi, was yesterday stopped by some Benue youths from visiting Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of the state, where he was scheduled to make personal donations to victims of the June 13, 2025, armed herdsmen attack.
The action of the youths drew scathing reactions from the NDC, its Vice President candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, human rights actibvist, Deji Adeyanju, and Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, who described the development as unacceptable.
It’s worrisome–Obi
Obi, who arrived in Makurdi at about 9am, was on his way to Yelewata when the youths blocked the Makurdi-Gboko Road, less than two kilometres from the airport, chanting “Obi go back, Obi go back.”
Some of the youths were reportedly wielding sticks and throwing stones as security personnel deployed to the area watched the development.
Following the confrontation, Obi and members of his team turned back and returned to the airport where he boarded an aircraft and left the state.
Speaking before departing, Obi described the development as ridiculous and very worrisome, saying he had travelled to Benue to sympathise with families affected by the killings and support victims of the Yelewata attack.
He said: “It is ridiculous and very, very worrisome, our experience this morning. We arrived Benue, Makurdi precisely this morning at 9am, on our way to the Yelewata community to condole and show solidarity to the families affected by last year’s killings.
“As you know, there have been killings of over 270 persons in that community and I felt as we were starting our campaign that I should go around and be able to visit and condole the families, show respect to the dead and the community, support them in any way I can.
“Only to arrive Makurdi this morning and trying to drive out, I was blocked by teaming thugs, shouting ‘Obi go back, Obi go back.’ And I was wondering, are we still in Nigeria? Or am I in another country?
“But we know that even the campaigns have started, so I should be able to move around freely. But I discontinued because I didn’t want to say we must go on as we have our own teaming crowd, but not wanting to cause confusion and possibly endanger the lives of other people. I decided to remain as civil as possible.”
The former Anambra State governor appealed to the security agencies, particularly the Inspector-General of Police, Director-General of the Department of State Services and other relevant authorities, to intervene and ensure that political campaigns were conducted peacefully across the country.
Obi said: “I am using this occasion to appeal to the security agencies, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, the Director of DSS and other agencies to please intervene and be able to call various state governors to order. This rascality cannot be allowed.
“We have a country and we too have followers. We have people who can confront these people on our own if the state and the government can no longer provide us security. We cannot go on this way. It is unacceptable.”
Issues-centred campaigns
He said the 2027 presidential campaign should be centred on issues affecting Nigerians, including insecurity, kidnapping, hunger, killings and poverty, rather than violence and confrontation.
“I participated yesterday (Monday) in the commissioning of the office of the presidential candidate of APM appealing that we need unity, love, justice, and let this campaign be concentrated on ideas, issues that concern Nigerians today of insecurity, kidnapping, hunger, killing and everything and how we are going to pull our people out of poverty. That is what it should be.
“I am not here to contest elections for office of the governor of Benue State. I have chosen as a presidential candidate that I want to visit every community, visit across Nigeria, which is what I’m urging other presidential candidates to do.
“Go around Nigeria so you can feel the people, see their faces, ask them questions and they ask you questions about what you want to do for them to be able to ameliorate the suffering Nigerians are going through today. That is why I am here today. Nothing else.
“I call on the youths that are being used. The abuse you are allowing them to use you for today will take its revenge on you. I have a lesser number of years to live in life. People are using you. They are not using their children. They are not using their relations. They are using you to stop opportunity of building a better life for you.
“All I want is to have a Nigeria where a child of nobody can be somebody without knowing anybody. Where no Nigerian will go to bed without having food in his stomach. Without knowing where the next meal will come from. That’s all we want,’’ he said.
The NDC presidential candidate said Benue had the agricultural capacity to feed Nigeria but lamented that insecurity and lack of economic opportunities had deprived many youths of sustainable livelihoods.
He said: “Look at Benue, the state can feed Nigeria. It has arable lands where you can farm yam and lots of food crops. But today it has become a place where thugs thrive because they have no means of livelihood. And that is what we want to change.”
Obi further urged politicians and their supporters to avoid actions capable of plunging the country into anarchy, saying political contests should be determined by ideas and policies.
“We are not coming here fighting anybody because our elections will be run on ideas, on issues. And I urge people to please let’s concentrate on that. Let’s not allow a country to get into anarchy. Anarchy consumes everybody,” he said.
The former governor, who served for eight years in Anambra State, said he found it difficult to believe that the incident could have occurred without the knowledge of the state government and security agencies.
“I have been governor myself. I know that this cannot happen without the government and security agencies in this state being fully aware that I am here. I was governor for eight years and I know the system very well. And this couldn’t have happened while I was there. Even if it happens I will intervene,” he said.
Obi also argued that there was no justification for preventing him from moving around the state because campaigns had commenced, adding that he was not visiting Benue on election day.
He said: “This is a campaign period. I did not come here on election day so you cannot say I came disturbing the election. I did not come here when there was no campaign. Remember last time I wanted to come, the governor said he did not want to see me. I turned back. But now is the election period where as a presidential candidate I am free to move around because elections campaigns have started.
“So what they would have been doing is urging other presidential candidates to come and see things for themselves. I came to Benue to see things for myself.”
Reacting to the incident, the NDC governorship candidate in Benue State, Prof. Terhemba Shija, who was at the scene, condemned the action of the youths and praised Obi for refusing to escalate the confrontation.
Shija said Obi’s response demonstrated the kind of leadership he believed the former governor would provide if elected president.
We’re not aware– Benue Govt
However, the Benue State government distanced itself from the incident, saying it was not informed about Obi’s visit to the state.
Commissioner for Information, Solomon Iorpev, while reacting to the development, said: “A high profile person who has been former governor of a state is coming into the state, he should have written a letter to the state government.
‘’We are suppose to guarantee his safety and protection but an instance where no letter was written, we could not guarantee his safety. This is not the first time he is doing this. He is just looking for our trouble. We are peace loving and hospitable people
“When you are coming to the state you are supposed to inform the chief security officer of the state who is the governor and that was not done. So we were not aware of his coming and we are not aware of the youths responsible.”
We were aware of Obi’s visit—Police
The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr Cletus Nwadiogbu, however, in his account concerning the security arrangements for the visit, said the police command was informed about Obi’s planned visit on Monday night.
Nwadiogbu said the command deployed personnel to provide security for the presidential candidate on his journey to Yelewata.
He said: “I also asked the AC Operations to personally lead the men. But unfortunately on his arrival, we heard that youths blocked the roads, saying they did not want to see him. We tactically managed the situation but we are investigating why they took that decision.”
According to him, Obi’s decision to turn back helped prevent the situation from escalating. “The man is very responsible, when that happened he went back and boarded his plane and left.”
NDC kicks
Reacting to the development yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary of NDC, Osa Director, said:
“The NDC finds it deeply troubling and condemnable that a visit intended solely to mourn with grieving families, offer solidarity and listen to victims about how to prevent future tragedies was obstructed in this manner.
“The NDC believes that Benue and all Nigerians deserve to live, sleep peacefully, travel safely, and farm their lands without fear. Above all, they deserve a government that prioritises the protection of human life above every other consideration.
“Although access to the community was denied today (yesterday), the hearts and prayers of the NDC and our presidential candidate remain with the victims, their families, and the entire Yelwata community.
“We will not be deterred. The NDC will persist until we restore the fundamental responsibility of government: the protection of every Nigerian’s life.
“We call on Benue State government and relevant security agencies to immediately investigate this incident, bring the perpetrators to justice, and guarantee the safety of all citizens and leaders who seek to show solidarity in times of grief.”
Kwankwaso condemns blockade of Obi’s convoy
Also reacting, the Vice Presidential candidate of NDC, Rabiu Kwankwaso, condemned the blockade of Obi’s convoy.
Kwankwaso, in a post on his official X handle, described the incident as a threat to democracy and called on the Benue State government to identify and prosecute those responsible.
The former governor of Kano State said the alleged mobilisation of people to block Obi’s convoy and prevent him from entering Makurdi was a “dark day for our democracy.”
“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 urged Benue State government to ensure the safety and free movement of Obi and members of his entourage.
“I further urge the President to caution state governors, particularly those in his party, against any actions that could undermine the sanctity of our democracy,” he said.
Kwankwaso also called on the international community, including diplomatic missions and election observation groups, to take note of the incident.
He urged them to encourage Nigerian authorities to uphold the rule of law, protect opposition leaders and safeguard democratic freedoms.
Adeyanju condemns alleged attack on Peter Obi in Benue
In his reaction, human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, condemned the alleged attack on Obi, adding that the constitution of Nigeria guaranteed the right of every Nigerian to move freely in the country.
While describing the incident as disturbing and repugnant to everything democracy stood for, Adeyanju said: “The reported attack on Peter Obi and his supporters in Benue State today (yesterday) is completely repugnant to everything democracy stands for.
“Freedom of movement is a constitutionally guaranteed right of every Nigerian citizen, and political differences cannot justify its violation.
“It is even more disturbing when such an incident is directed at a presidential candidate. Politics is about competing ideas, policies and blueprints, not thuggery, intimidation or rigging.
“President must unequivocally condemn this incident, while the governor of Benue State must ensure that his administration does not tolerate or encourage such brigandage. Political sycophants and those seeking to please those in power must desist from anti democratic acts.”
Those who stopped Obi couldn’t stop killings in Benue – HURIWA
Also reacting, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, described the incident as “lawless, reckless and misdirected,” questioning the circumstances surrounding the reported confrontation and the decision to prevent Obi from proceeding into the state.
In a press statement by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, the group said the incident was particularly troubling because Obi was reportedly visiting the state to commiserate with victims of attacks, wondering why those behind the attack had been unable to stop herdsmen killings in the state.
The group said: “The mob that stopped Peter Obi failed to stop terrorists killing innocent Benue people.”
HURIWA argued that attention should instead be focused on addressing the insecurity that had continued to affect communities across the state.
It also questioned whether adequate arrangements was made by the relevant authorities to ensure the safety and free movement of Obi and his entourage.
“We condemn the Benue State government for permitting this lawlessness and we also blame the federal government for not deploying sufficient armed security forces to facilitate the passage of Peter Obi into Benue State,” HURIWA said.
