Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has condemned the blockade of the convoy of presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, during his visit to the state.
Ortom described the incident as wrong, saying Obi should have been allowed to visit Yelewata and sympathise with victims of the June 2025 attacks.
The former governor spoke on Wednesday while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he said the incident was inconsistent with democratic principles.
“I condemn what happened yesterday, it is wrong not to allow Peter Obi to visit Benue and sympathise with those people whose people were killed. That was what he came here to do. It was wrong and that is the kind of government that we have in Benue today. It is not the first time, they have done it before,” Ortom said.
“Alia himself, the governor of Benue State is involved in this matter, he cannot deny that. I am not supporting Peter Obi but it is wrong, allow democracy which is anchored on the rule of law to prevail, not to stop other people so that you take advantage of what is happening.”
Obi was in Benue State on Tuesday where he was scheduled to visit Yelewata to meet and commiserate with victims of the June 2025 attacks.
However, his convoy encountered a roadblock mounted by youths a few metres from the airport along the two-lane Makurdi-Gboko federal highway.
The development caused significant traffic congestion as the highway was blocked, while the police at the scene made little effort to disperse the youths.
Speaking after the incident, Obi called on security agencies to intervene and ensure that political activities could be conducted without intimidation.
“It is ridiculous. Our experience this morning is very very worrisome. We arrived Makurdi at 9 AM, but on our way to the Yelewata community, to console and show solidarity with the family affected by the killings of over 270 persons in that community, and support them in any way I can, only to be blocked by thugs shouting, ‘Peter Obi go back!. Peter Obi go back!’”
“And I was wondering: are we still in Nigeria? Because, even the campaign I have started, I should be able to move around freely. But we didn’t want to go on and cause confusion and possibly endanger the lives of other people, so I decided to remain as civil as possible.”
“I am using this occasion to appeal to the security agencies, the IG of police, and other agencies, to please intervene and be able to call various state governors to order. I was a state governor myself. This rascality cannot be allowed. We are a country, and can we confront these people on our own if these people cannot provide us with security?
“We can not go on this way. This is unacceptable,” Obi lamented.
Benue Government Denies Involvement
The Benue State Government has denied involvement in the incident, rejecting allegations that thugs working for the administration blocked Obi from accessing Yelewata.
In a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the government described Obi’s allegation as unfounded and said it was an attempt to drag Governor Hyacinth Alia and the state government into what it described as a possible internal political matter 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,” Kula said.
The government also questioned whether Obi visited Makurdi on Tuesday, citing what it described as his antecedents of making untrue statements against the state.
It said Obi was not a threat to Governor Alia, adding that even if he posed any security concern, recognised security agencies, rather than thugs, would be responsible for handling such a situation.
The government maintained that Governor Alia was committed to peace and the rule of law, insisting that his administration does not “engage, patronize, or deploy thugs as instruments of governance or security.”
Police Arrest 46 Suspects
Meanwhile, the police have paraded 46 suspects in connection with Tuesday’s attack on Obi’s convoy.
Addressing journalists in Makurdi on Wednesday, the Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, said investigations were ongoing, adding that key leaders of the youths were being trailed.
He warned that the police in Benue State would not allow any act of political intolerance as the 2027 general election approaches.
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