By Olusegun Samuel Precious
Political tension flared in Benue State on Tuesday after protesters barricaded the convoy of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), preventing him from visiting communities affected by recent violent attacks in Guma Local Government Area.
Obi, who was traveling to condole with victims of the Yelwata killings, was intercepted along Gboko Road in Makurdi, near the Makurdi Airport and Nigerian Air Force Base, where demonstrators blocked the highway for hours chanting anti-Obi slogans.
Addressing the incident in a video statement released shortly after the standoff, Obi accused the Benue State Government of organizing the blockade to prevent his humanitarian intervention.
“I was told that youths, led by a Special Assistant to the government, have decided to block the road and make sure I don’t go there,” Obi said, condemning the action. “The rascality they are bringing into this country is totally unacceptable.”
The incident marks the second major standoff between the former Anambra State governor and the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia. In April 2025, Obi was forced to cancel a scheduled visit to displaced persons’ camps and educational institutions in Gboko after state officials declared they could not guarantee security for high-profile visits without prior government clearance.
While state officials have previously argued that stringent protocols are necessary to manage security risks across volatile zones in Benue, critics contend that the administration is attempting to restrict opposition political activity ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.
As of press time, the Benue State Government has not issued an official response regarding Tuesday’s blockade in Makurdi.
