GBOKO: Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has explained why he travelled to Benue State after his convoy was reportedly attacked while he was heading to Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area.
Obi said his visit was strictly humanitarian and had nothing to do with his 2027 presidential campaign.
Speaking after the incident, the former Anambra State governor expressed concern about the state of Nigerian politics, saying his presence in Benue was intended to sympathise with victims of the deadly attack that occurred in Yelwata in June 2025.
“I am in Benue today not for campaigns. I only wanted to go to a place where people lost their lives, to condole and show solidarity with them,” Obi stated.
Obi had arrived in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Tuesday and was expected to proceed to Yelwata, where he planned to meet families affected by the June 13, 2025 attack.
The tragedy claimed numerous lives and displaced residents, sparking widespread condemnation and renewed calls for improved security in Benue State.
According to Obi, his decision to visit the community was motivated by a desire to identify with families who lost loved ones and show solidarity with residents still dealing with the consequences of the attack.
However, his journey to Yelwata was reportedly disrupted when suspected thugs blocked and attacked his convoy along the Gboko-Makurdi road.
The Benue State NDC Publicity Secretary, Agile Bem Ordedoo, alleged that thousands of people were mobilised to prevent Obi from reaching the community.
Thugs in their numbers mobilised in thousands and stopped the presidential candidate of NDC, Mr Peter Obi, from entering Yelwata to condole with victims and offer relief materials worth billions,” Ordedoo alleged.
The NDC official said Obi had planned to provide relief materials to affected residents as part of his humanitarian visit.
Reacting to the reported incident, Obi said it showed how deeply political engagement had deteriorated in Nigeria.
You can see the level to which our politics has degenerated,” he said.
The NDC presidential candidate recalled that he had used an opportunity the previous day, while attending the launch of an office belonging to an APM candidate, to call for a more peaceful political environment.
“That was why yesterday, while joining the APM candidate in launching his office, I used the opportunity to plead with our people, let our next politics be a politics of unity,” Obi stated.
He maintained that his presence in Benue was not intended for campaigning but to show compassion to people who had suffered loss.
The allegation that APC members were behind the reported attack has been rejected by the party’s Benue State chapter.
The APC Publicity Secretary in the state, Benedict Yaweh, said the party was not aware of the incident and denied involvement by its members.
We are not aware of the attack if truly they were attacked in Makurdi. If they were attacked, it may be from their aggrieved supporters and not APC members. We are a peace-loving party and we don’t involve in thuggery, Yaweh said.
The denial has further complicated the circumstances surrounding the incident, with the NDC alleging deliberate obstruction while the APC distances itself from the reported action.
Meanwhile, NDC vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso has strongly condemned the reported attack on Obi’s convoy.
Kwankwaso described the incident as another dark day for our democracy and demanded immediate action against those responsible.
In a statement published on his verified X account on Tuesday, the former Kano State governor said he was deeply disturbed by reports that individuals had allegedly been mobilised to block Obi’s convoy and prevent him from moving freely.
Kwankwaso argued that freedom of movement is guaranteed under Nigeria’s Constitution and should be protected, particularly in the case of a former governor and leading opposition politician.
He called on the Benue State Government to urgently identify and prosecute those behind the alleged attack.
He also urged authorities to guarantee the safety and free movement of Obi and members of his team.
The NDC vice-presidential candidate also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to caution state governors, particularly those elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, against actions that could undermine opposition politicians and Nigeria’s democratic process.
Kwankwaso’s intervention has broadened the controversy surrounding the Benue incident, turning the reported attack into a wider debate about political tolerance, opposition rights and democratic freedoms ahead of the 2027 elections.
He further called on diplomatic missions and election-monitoring organisations to pay close attention to the incident.
Kwankwaso urged authorities to uphold the rule of law and ensure that opposition leaders are protected as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Benue State Government has also said it was not informed about Obi’s visit before he arrived in the state.
Kula Tersoo, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, said prior notification would have allowed state officials and security agencies to make appropriate arrangements for Obi’s protection.
The governor’s aide also rejected suggestions that the youths who reportedly blocked Obi’s convoy were acting on behalf of the state government.
Tersoo questioned the security arrangements around Obi, arguing that as a presidential candidate and former governor, he should have adequate protection from relevant federal and state security agencies.
Meanwhile, an independent confirmation of the reported attack from the Benue State Police Command was not immediately available.
The command’s spokesperson, Peter Orchia Aondongu, reportedly did not respond to calls seeking clarification on the incident and the circumstances surrounding the disruption of Obi’s movement.
The absence of an immediate police confirmation leaves important questions about the identity of those involved and the precise circumstances surrounding the confrontation.
Obi’s explanation remains that his visit was motivated by compassion for victims of the Yelwata tragedy rather than political campaigning.
His planned visit was expected to include a condolence visit and the presentation of relief materials to affected residents.
The reported disruption has, however, transformed what Obi described as a humanitarian mission into a major political controversy.
The NDC has accused unnamed political actors of obstructing the visit, while the APC and Benue State Government have denied responsibility.
Kwankwaso’s demand for an investigation and prosecution has now added pressure on authorities to establish what happened and who was responsible.
As political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections, the incident has also revived concerns over political tolerance, the safety of opposition figures and the ability of politicians to move freely across states.
For Obi, the central message from the Benue visit remains his call for a politics of unity. For Kwankwaso, however, the reported attack raises a more fundamental question about the protection of democratic rights and the safety of opposition politicians in Nigeria.
