PETER OBI, BENUE GOVERNMENT CLASH OVER BLOCKED YELWATA VISIT

A political dispute has erupted between former Anambra State governor Peter Obi and the Benue State Government after his planned visit to Yelwata was disrupted by youths who blocked his convoy in Makurdi. Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, said he travelled to the state to sympathise with families affected by the deadly Yelwata attack but was prevented from continuing his journey.

The incident occurred along Gboko Road, close to the Nigerian Air Force Base and Makurdi Airport, where protesters reportedly barricaded the road and chanted that they did not want Obi in the area. The blockade created significant traffic disruption and eventually forced the opposition leader's convoy to turn back towards the airport before he returned to Jos, Plateau State. Obi alleged that the youths had been mobilised by a government aide and described their action as an unacceptable attempt to use vulnerable young people for political purposes.

Obi said his visit was humanitarian and was intended to allow him to meet relatives of victims of the June 2025 Yelwata massacre, in which more than 200 people were reportedly killed. He maintained that the relevant authorities were aware of his movement and questioned why he should be stopped from visiting families who had suffered such a devastating loss. The NDC also condemned the incident and called for an investigation into those responsible for the blockade.

However, the Benue State Government rejected the allegation that it sponsored or organised the protesters. Government officials said Obi did not formally notify the state government of his planned visit, arguing that such notification was necessary for a high-profile visitor to receive adequate security arrangements. A state commissioner said the government could not guarantee Obi's protection if the appropriate protocol had not been followed, while another government aide insisted that the state was unaware of the visit.

The Benue State Police Command confirmed that it was aware of Obi's movement and had deployed personnel to provide security, but said it was investigating why the youths stopped his convoy. The conflicting positions from Obi's camp, the state government and the police have intensified political tensions in the state ahead of the 2027 elections, with the NDC insisting that the visit was strictly humanitarian and should not have been obstructed.