The planned visit of the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to Yelwata in Benue State has sparked a fresh political controversy after youths blocked his convoy, preventing him from reaching families affected by the 2025 killings.
Obi had travelled to Benue to sympathise with victims of the Yelwata massacre, but his movement was stopped along Gboko Road in Makurdi. The incident caused traffic disruption and eventually forced his convoy to turn back.
The former Anambra State governor alleged that some youths had been mobilised to stop him from entering the community, claiming that a government aide was involved. He described the development as unacceptable and questioned the use of youths to frustrate a visit he said was humanitarian rather than political.
The Benue State Government, however, rejected the allegation and said Obi failed to formally notify the government of his visit. The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Solomon Iorpev, argued that proper communication was necessary because of Obi’s status as a former governor and presidential candidate.
Governor Hyacinth Alia’s Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, also denied any involvement by the governor or his administration, describing Obi’s allegations as unfounded and suggesting that the controversy could be linked to political disagreements within the NDC structure in the state.
The police account added another dimension to the dispute. The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, confirmed that the command had been informed of Obi’s movement and had deployed officers to provide security for him. The police said they were investigating why the youths blocked the convoy.
The controversy has drawn condemnation from political figures and civic organisations, with calls for an impartial investigation into the incident. PDP governorship candidate Michael Aondoakaa described the blockade as an attack on democratic rights, while former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal said political disagreements should not be allowed to restrict the movement of political candidates.
The NDC also demanded that those responsible be identified and prosecuted, insisting that Obi’s visit was intended to express solidarity with families affected by the Yelwata attack.
