Benue govt denies knowledge of Peter Obi’s visit, rejects link to convoy blockade

The Benue State Government has denied any involvement in the reported obstruction of the convoy of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, during his visit to the state on Tuesday.

The government also said it was not informed about Obi’s arrival in Benue, dismissing claims that youths who allegedly blocked his movement were acting on its behalf.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Kula Tersoo, disclosed this during a telephone conversation on Tuesday.

According to Tersoo, the government would have been able to establish what transpired if security operatives had been responsible for stopping Obi’s convoy.

“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.

“As presidential candidate of a party and former governor he is a property of federal government and ought to have been given security, where are those security agents around him and if he is going to any state, the security of the host state should know so as to provide security for him.”

Tersoo further dismissed suggestions that youths could have been deployed by the state government to frustrate Obi’s movement.

He maintained that the administration does not engage or support political thugs and insisted that Obi posed no threat to Governor Alia.

“We were surprised that youth would stop someone, youth can not do anything on behalf of government. 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. Am hearing it from you,” he said.

Obi was reportedly on his way to Yelewata, where he intended to meet families affected by the June 2025 massacre, when his convoy was stopped by youths around Gyado Villa on Gboko Road.

Following the incident, Obi was said to have returned to Abuja.

Meanwhile, the NDC governorship candidate in Benue, Prof. Terhemba Shija, gave a different account of the development.

Speaking by telephone, Shija said Obi’s purpose for visiting the state was to meet with relatives of those killed during the June 2025 attack in Yelewata.

He claimed that the relevant security agencies had been formally notified ahead of the visit and that both the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) had deployed personnel to accompany the team.

He said, “Is Obi not a presidential candidate, INEC has lifted ban on campaign and we duly informed police and DSS about his visit to the state they deployed police and DSS to be with us.

“While responding to a question on whether the state government had also received prior notice, Shija argued that such permission was unnecessary, noting that the electoral body had already lifted restrictions on political campaigns.

“But government is aware that INEC has lifted ban on campaign, do we need to take permission from candidate?” Professor Shija asked.

The NDC candidate described the incident as “a demonstration of fear, a clear show that Obi is the man to watch”, adding, “he has come just to see families of victims of Yelewata why should somebody stopped a legitimate candidate after he has officially given notice to CP and DSS?”

The Benue State Police Command, however, confirmed that it had been informed about Obi’s planned movement.

In a brief statement issued on Tuesday, the command’s spokesperson, DSP Peter Aondongu, said police personnel were deployed to provide security during the movement.

He said the circumstances behind the blockade remained unclear, adding that an investigation was ongoing.

“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,” the PPRO said.