The Benue State Government has denied knowing about Peter Obi’s visit to the state. In the early hours on Tuesday, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress ran into a blockade. His convoy was stopped by youths at Gyado along Gboko Road.
According to reports, Obi was heading to Yelewata. He planned to meet families affected by the June massacre. The deadly attack killed dozens of residents, and Obi wanted to offer condolences to the victims and equally wanted to assess the damage.
Chief Press Secretary of the Benue State Government, Kula Tersoo, spoke for Governor Hyacinth Alia. He said the state government had no prior knowledge of the visit. He made this clear in his reaction to the incident. The statement shifted blame away from the administration and also raised questions about security protocols for high-profile visitors.
The blockade itself was carried out by youths as they stopped Obi’s convoy at Gyado. They prevented him from continuing his movement. However, their motive remains unclear as to whether they acted alone or on instructions. No violence was reported, but the message was clear that Obi was not welcome in Benue State.
This is the latest in a string of obstacles facing Obi as he prepares for the 2027 general elections. In February 2026, gunmen shot at his convoy in Benin City, Edo State. Vehicles were damaged, but he escaped unharmed.
Obi has been vocal about insecurity in Benue. He visited Otukpo-Nobi after gunmen killed at least 10 residents and called on the federal government to end the bloodshed, as he posted on X, reacting to fresh attacks in Benue, Plateau, and Niger states. He said Nigeria must not become a killing field.
The political context is impossible to ignore. Obi is expected to contest the 2027 presidential election. His nationwide engagements are seen as early campaigning. Incumbent governors view him as a threat, and some have issued warnings to him. Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo warned Obi against entering the state without permission, although the governor later refuted the statement.
Tuesday’s blockade fits this troubling pattern. If state governments truly do not know when opposition leaders visit, that exposes a security gap. If they do know and fail to act, that suggests complicity.
The NDC leader has said no threat will stop him, as he will continue reaching the Nigerian people. But his safety is a growing concern. Three incidents in less than a year are not a coincidence. It is a pattern, as someone wants him off the campaign trail.
Nigeria’s democracy is being tested as opposition leaders must be allowed to campaign. They must be allowed to visit troubled communities and they must be allowed to criticize the government. Blocking convoys, shooting at vehicles, and denying access are not the tools of a free society.
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