The vice presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has demanded the arrest and prosecution of those who allegedly blocked the convoy of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, during his visit to Benue State.
Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, condemned the incident, describing the alleged attack on Obi’s convoy as unacceptable and calling on the Benue State Government to identify those responsible.
Obi had travelled to Benue on Tuesday to visit communities affected by the deadly Yelwata killings, which reportedly claimed more than 270 lives.
However, his convoy was allegedly stopped by youths along Gboko Road in Makurdi, with videos from the scene showing people carrying sticks and pursuing vehicles in the convoy.
Kwankwaso said the incident was the result of the “deliberate mobilisation of unruly elements” to prevent Obi from entering Makurdi.
“The deliberate mobilisation of unruly elements to block and attack his convoy and prevent him from entering Makurdi marks another dark day for our democracy,” he said.
He urged the Benue State Government to ensure that those responsible were swiftly identified and prosecuted, while also guaranteeing the safety and free movement of Obi and his entourage.
Kwankwaso further called on President Bola Tinubu to caution state governors, particularly those belonging to the ruling All Progressives Congress, against actions capable of undermining democratic freedoms.
He also appealed to diplomatic missions and international election observation groups to take note of the incident and urge Nigerian authorities to uphold the rule of law and protect opposition politicians.
Obi: I came to mourn victims
Obi said he travelled to Benue purely on a humanitarian mission to sympathise with families affected by the Yelwata killings and show solidarity with communities devastated by insecurity.
The former Anambra State governor said he arrived in the state at about 9am but could not proceed to the affected community after youths allegedly blocked his convoy and chanted, “Peter Obi, go back.”
He described the incident as deeply distressing, insisting that his visit had nothing to do with campaign activities.
“I came to Benue not for partisan politics, but to mourn with our people, to listen to families who have lost loved ones, and to offer comfort at a moment of unimaginable sorrow,” Obi said.
In another statement after the incident, he said he had merely wanted to visit a community where people had lost their lives and offer comfort to the bereaved.
“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. But you can see the level at which our politics has degenerated,” he said.
Obi also cited his attendance at the opening of the presidential campaign office of another opposition candidate, Governor Seyi Makinde, in Abuja on Monday as evidence of his commitment to peaceful political engagement.
He said that, as governor of Anambra State, he had welcomed opposition politicians visiting the state, provided they operated within the law.
Benue Government denies involvement
The Benue State Government, however, denied involvement in the incident and said it was unaware of Obi’s visit.
Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, said the government had not been informed of the former governor’s arrival and rejected allegations that it sponsored thugs to stop him.
“We are not aware whether he is in the state or not. If the Benue State Government is to stop anybody, including Peter Obi, why would the Benue State Government go and use thugs? Benue government doesn’t do that,” Kula said.
He described the allegation of government involvement as unfounded, insisting that the state administration did not condone such conduct.
The Commissioner for Information, Solomon Iorpev, also said he was unaware of the identity of those who blocked Obi’s convoy.
However, Iorpev criticised Obi for allegedly failing to notify the state government before his arrival, arguing that the former governor’s status required adequate security arrangements.
“A high-profile person who has been a former governor of a state is coming into the state; he should have written a letter to the State Government,” Iorpev said.
“We are supposed to guarantee his safety and protection, but in an instance where no letter was written, we could not guarantee his safety.”
According to the commissioner, Obi’s arrival coincided with a meeting of youths from the state’s 23 local government areas.
He suggested that the gathering may have contributed to the road blockage but stressed that he did not know the youths responsible.
“So, if they were coming from either Tarka, Gboko, Buruku, Ushongo, Konshisha or Vandeikya at the same time of his visit and blocked the road, it is unfortunate. I do not know the youths who did that,” he said.
Political tensions
The incident has generated controversy over the circumstances surrounding Obi’s visit and the responsibility of state authorities to facilitate the movement and security of prominent opposition figures.
While Obi and his supporters have portrayed the obstruction as politically motivated, the Benue Government has denied any role in the incident and maintained that the visit was not officially communicated to the state.
The development comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition parties stepping up grassroots engagement across the country.
Beyond the competing accounts of what happened on Gboko Road, the incident has raised broader questions about political tolerance, freedom of movement and the need to prevent partisan differences from spilling into confrontation.
For Obi, however, the immediate purpose of the visit remained the victims of the Yelwata killings.
Although he was unable to reach the affected community, he said his thoughts and prayers remained with the victims, their families and the people of Benue.
He reiterated that Nigerians should be able to live, travel and cultivate their land without fear, stressing that the protection of human life must remain the primary responsibility of government.
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