Thugs on Tuesday blocked the convoy of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress for 2027, from entering a Benue community.

Speaking with reporters, the NDC presidential candidate said, “Today, I am in Benue not for a campaign. I only want to go to a place where people lost their lives and condole with them. But you can see what our politics has degenerated into.

“People have been killed. I came to condole with them. But youths, led by SA to the governor, blocked the road and made sure I didn’t go in. I’ve been standing here for a while now, thinking they will come to their senses. We cannot have a country like this. This rascality is unacceptable. These youths are being used to do this. Unfortunately, someone sits in office allowing this to happen. These people are hungry. Need to be pulled out of poverty. But unfortunately, see what is happening.”

Esther Umoh, official campaign photographer of Mr Obi, posted videos of a roadblock showing thugs asking their convoy to turn back.

“We have just arrived in Benue State, where alleged sponsored thugs have blocked Gboko Road by the Air Force Base, attempting to prevent Peter Obi from gaining access to the state,” she said.

However, Terso Kula, spokesperson for Governor Hyacinth Alia, dismissed Mr Obi’s allegation that Mr Alia’s aide mobilised thugs to harass the NDC politician.

“We as a government are not even aware whether Peter Obi came to Benue,” Mr Kula told Peoples Gazette. “Peter Obi is contesting for president. He is not a threat to the governor in any way. If he is a threat, it is not the youth that will stop him. It is the security agencies that will do their work. I doubt any government official mobilised to block him.”

In 2025, Mr Obi expressed his displeasure at how the Benue government allegedly politicised his planned visit to the troubled state. Mr Alia declared that Mr Obi should not visit Benue without his permission.

Mr Alia accused Mr Obi of violating standard protocols by failing to inform the governor ahead of his visit, as courtesy demands.

“A very respected Peter Obi was a governor. If you are coming into someone’s state, there are protocols. I, the sitting governor, did not know you were coming. Then you are going into where I’m protecting even the most, the IDP camp. It’s my duty to protect them.

“They’ve been displaced. I need to protect them even some more. I don’t know the intent you have. Is it not courteous enough for me to know as a sitting governor and even to provide more security to you and prepare the minds of the IDPs that a guest is coming to visit them?” stated the Benue govenor.