Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called for consistency and fairness in media coverage of political incidents following the disruption of the visit of the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, to Benue State.
Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, made the call in a post on X on Wednesday while condemning the reported prevention of Obi by protesters from proceeding to the venue of his planned visit in Benue State.
The minister said the incident, regardless of whether it was caused by internal disagreements within the NDC, as claimed by the Benue State Government, or allegedly sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC) or another rival party, should not be tolerated in a democracy.
He said: “Yesterday’s report of the prevention of the Presidential candidate of the NDC, Mr. Peter Obi, by some angry protesters from proceeding to the venue of his visit in Benue State must be condemned by all men of goodwill.”
Keyamo also noted allegations that Obi’s planned visit to Yelwata, where killings occurred in 2025, was politically motivated and intended to revive emotions surrounding the incident.
He, however, maintained that such allegations did not justify blocking the former Anambra State governor from moving freely.
“That is still not acceptable; everyone should be allowed to move about freely and play their politics without such crude interference,” he said.
The minister, however, accused what he described as the “partisan section of the media” of applying different standards when reporting incidents involving candidates of the ruling APC and opposition parties.
According to him, when an APC candidate is confronted or allegedly molested by an angry crowd, some media outlets often describe the incident as a “rejection” by Nigerians, whereas similar incidents involving opposition politicians are reported as attacks by “sponsored thugs” or “hoodlums”.
“Many a time when an angry crowd confronts or molests an APC candidate at any level, the partisan Press shamelessly dubs or spins it as ‘rejection’ by ‘Nigerians’. When it concerns the opposition, then it is ‘attack’ by ‘sponsored thugs’ or ‘hoodlums’,” Keyamo said.
He urged the media to avoid partisan reporting and apply the same standards to all political parties and candidates.
“What is good for the goose is also good for the gander. The Press must extricate itself from such partisanship and be fair to all,” he said.
Keyamo further criticised opposition leaders who, he alleged, openly encourage supporters to stone, beat or molest APC candidates in areas where the party is unpopular.
He said political disagreements should be expressed through the ballot box rather than violence during election campaigns.
“Whoever is angry at any candidate of any political party should display the anger with the ballot paper on voting day by a simple thumbprint, not by violent acts during campaigns,” he added.
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