In an extraordinary display of political intolerance, unsurpassed since Nigeria’s return to Democracy in 1999, the Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, was on Tuesday blocked from entering Benue State by thugs, allegedly mobilized by the Benue State Government, led by a catholic priest, Hyacinth Alia of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Obi’s convoy was blocked by the thugs, wielding sticks, near the Nigerian Air Force Base and Makurdi Airport, preventing Obi from entering Makurdi, the state capital.
The protesters, chanting “We don’t want Peter Obi,” blocked the road near the Nigerian Air Force Base and Makurdi Airport for hours, disrupting traffic as Obi’s convoy was held back.
In one of the videos shared on X, the thugs were seen chasing his convoy with sticks and other dangerous objects.
Speaking at the scene in a video posted on X page on Tuesday, Obi said he had travelled to Benue to condole with victims of killings in the state but was stopped on the orders of a government aide.
“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.
Recall that in April, 2025, Obi also said that Governor Alia had prevented him from visiting victims of terrorist attacks in IDP camps in Benue.
The former Anambra governor is known for his moral and financial support for those displaced by insecurity and natural calamities across the country.
Meanwhile, the Benue State government has denied knowledge of Obi’s visit and distanced itself from the show of shame.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alia, Kula Tersoo, said the government was not aware of Obi’s visit to the state.
“We are not aware of his coming to the state, and if it were to be security agents that stopped him, it would have been easy for us to find out what happened,” Tersoo said.
However, the Benue State Police Command confirmed that it was aware of Obi’s movement to Yelwata and that police operatives provided security for the convoy.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Peter Aondongu, said the reason the convoy was blocked by some youths remained unknown.
See video below: