‘Peter Obi is not a threat’ — Alia denies sponsoring thugs

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has rejected allegations that his administration sponsored thugs to attack Peter Obi and prevent the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) from entering Makurdi, the state capital.

The controversy followed a viral video in which Obi accused political thugs allegedly sponsored by the government of disrupting his movement during his visit to parts of Benue State.

Obi also alleged that a special assistant to Governor Alia led the group that stopped him from proceeding with his visit.

However, the governor, through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, dismissed the allegation. Kula said Obi does not pose any political threat to Alia ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

“Let it be known that Mr. Peter Obi is not a threat to Governor Alia in any way. Even if he actually visited the state, and we realized that he is a threat to anyone, the security agencies are there to handle the issue, not thugs,” the CPS said.

Kula described the allegation as unfounded and accused Obi of attempting to draw Alia and the people of Benue into what he suggested could be an internal dispute within the NDC.

“We wish to emphatically deny that the government of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has an idea of what Mr. Obi is talking about,” he added.

The governor’s office maintained that the state government had no involvement in the incident involving Obi’s convoy.