Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has alleged that a group of government-sponsored thugs, reportedly led by an aide to Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, blocked his convoy during a visit to the state.
Obi made the allegation in a telephone interview with ARISE News on Tuesday, saying the incident occurred as he travelled to Benue to commiserate with families and communities affected by recent terrorist attacks.
The former Anambra State governor said he had planned to visit communities where more than 200 people were killed in recent attacks. According to him, his convoy was stopped after a mob blocked the road, preventing him from proceeding with the visit.
Obi alleged that the group was led by a Special Adviser to Governor Alia and described those involved as “government-sponsored thugs.”
Videos obtained by ARISE News reportedly showed a group of people, some carrying sticks, blocking Obi’s convoy along Gboko Road as he attempted to enter the state.
The presidential candidate insisted that his visit was not politically motivated, saying he only wanted to sympathise with victims of insecurity and their families.
“I am in Benue not for a campaign. I only wanted to go to a place where people lost their lives and console them, show solidarity with them,” Obi said.
He further alleged that the individuals responsible for the blockade were connected to the state government and accused them of deliberately preventing him from reaching affected communities.
Obi also criticised the state of politics in Nigeria, arguing that political differences should not prevent leaders and citizens from reaching communities affected by violence, hunger and insecurity.
However, the Benue State Government denied any involvement in the incident.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alia, Tersoo Kula, said the government was unaware of Obi’s visit and rejected claims that it had sponsored or deployed anyone to obstruct the presidential candidate.
Kula questioned why the state government would resort to using thugs if it wanted to stop Obi, insisting that the allegation was untrue.
The development comes amid renewed concerns over insecurity in Benue State and the political tensions surrounding responses to recent attacks in affected communities.
Obi, while reacting to the incident, called for peaceful political engagement and urged Nigerians to put aside political differences in the interest of national unity.
“We have no other country except this place, and we will build it on unity and love with a sense of doing the right thing,” he said.
