Peter Obi’s Benue Ordeal: Convoy Blocked as Rival Allegations Fly
Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi's convoy was blocked in Benue State during his humanitarian visit to victims of violence, sparking conflicting accounts from the state government and police. The incident, which Obi attributed to "government-sponsored thugs," drew widespread condemnation from political figures and international bodies like Amnesty International, raising serious concerns about political intolerance and democratic rights in Nigeria.
The convoy of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obiwas blocked by a mob in Benue State on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, as he attempted to visit communities in Yelwata, Guma LGA, affected by terrorist attacks that claimed more than 200 lives in June 2025.
Obi said the visit was purely humanitarian and intended to commiserate with victims, but accused an aide to Governor Hyacinth Alia of coordinating the blockade with “government-sponsored thugs.”
The Benue State Government denied involvement, with Chief Press Secretary Tersoo Kula describing Obi’s allegations as “manufactured lies” and a “desperate internal party stunt.”
The conflicting accounts have heightened concerns over the circumstances surrounding the incident, with Moses Paul of the Obidient Movement saying the government’s claim that it was unaware of Obi’s visit contradicted the police response.
Paul said he had a letter documenting that the state had been notified and that security personnel had been deployed, while Kula said the governor directed the police to pursue those responsible after confirming the incident.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo also condemned the obstruction, arguing that political disagreements or concerns over campaign activity should not prevent anyone from moving freely, while criticising what he described as media double standards in reporting similar incidents involving political candidates.
African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore alleged that the Benue State Government was behind the blockade, citing the reported presence of a special adviser to the governor among the crowd, while stressing that citizens’ rights should be protected regardless of political affiliation.
Amnesty International called for an impartial and timely investigation, describing the incident as a serious act of political intolerance, while NDC leader Seriake Dickson said the reported arrest of 46 suspects was insufficient and called for the prosecution of both the alleged perpetrators and their sponsors.
Following the incident, Obi redirected his itinerary to Mangu LGA in Plateau State, where he met survivors of recent massacres, maintaining the humanitarian focus he said prompted the Benue visit.