The Presidential Candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has formally appealed to both the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) for their immediate intervention. This request follows the disruption of his intended visit to the Yelewata community within Benue State.
Mr. Obi had arrived in Makurdi on Tuesday morning with the intention of travelling to Yelewata, situated in the Guma Local Government Area. His plan was to extend condolences and offer personal financial assistance to the families affected by an armed attack that occurred on 13 June 2025.
Disruption of Visit and Turnaround
However, his convoy was intercepted by a group of youths from Benue State along the Makurdi-Gboko Road, approximately two kilometres from the airport. Eyewitnesses reported that some of the youths, brandishing sticks, shouted "Obi go back, Obi go back" and allegedly hurled stones, while security personnel present observed the confrontation without intervening.
Following this incident, Mr. Obi and his team reversed course, returning to the airport. Consequently, he departed the state without fulfilling his planned visit to Yelewata.
Obi Expresses Concern Over Incident
Prior to his departure, the former governor of Anambra State described the occurrence as "ridiculous" and "very, very worrisome." He reiterated that his journey to Benue was solely to sympathise with the families devastated by the killings and to provide support to the victims.
"We arrived Benue, Makurdi precisely this morning at 9 am, on our way to the Yelewata community to condole and show solidarity to the families affected by last year’s killings,” Obi stated. He further explained that this visit was part of his broader initiative to travel across the country, engage directly with Nigerians, and gain a firsthand understanding of their challenges.
According to Mr. Obi, the Yelewata attack resulted in over 270 fatalities, which spurred him to make the visit as he commenced his campaign activities. "Only to arrive Makurdi this morning and trying to drive out, I was blocked by teeming thugs, shouting ‘Obi go back, Obi go back.’ And I was wondering, are we still in Nigeria? Or am I in another country?” he recounted.
He explained his decision not to force his way through the blockade, stating that such an action could have incited violence and jeopardised lives. "I discontinued because I didn’t want to say we must go on as we have our own teeming crowd, but not wanting to cause confusion and possibly endanger the lives of other people. I decided to remain as civil as possible,” he affirmed.
Call for Peaceful Political Conduct
The NDC candidate subsequently appealed to the nation's security authorities, specifically the Inspector-General of Police and the DSS Director-General, to intervene. His plea was to ensure that political activities across the country are conducted in a peaceful manner. "I am using this occasion to appeal to the security agencies, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, the Director of DSS and other agencies to please intervene and be able to call various state governors to order. This rascality cannot be allowed,” Obi stressed.
He issued a stern warning that political violence could escalate if security agencies failed in their duty to protect political figures and their supporters. "We have a country and we too have followers. We have people who can confront these people on our own if the state and the government can no longer provide us security. We cannot go on this way. It is unacceptable,” he asserted.
Obi Advocates Issue-Based 2027 Campaign
Mr. Obi emphasised that the upcoming 2027 presidential contest should concentrate on the pressing issues facing Nigerians, rather than being marred by violence, intimidation, and political confrontation. He identified insecurity, kidnapping, hunger, killings, and widespread poverty as critical areas that presidential candidates should address while seeking voter support.
"I participated yesterday in the commissioning of the office of the Presidential candidate of APM appealing that we need unity, love, justice, and let this campaign be concentrated on ideas, issues that concern Nigerians today of insecurity, kidnapping, hunger, killing and everything and how we are going to pull our people out of poverty,” he explained. He encouraged other presidential candidates to travel nationwide, engage directly with communities, and actively listen to voters in preparation for the 2027 elections.
"Go around Nigeria so you can feel the people, see their faces, ask them questions and they ask you questions about what you want to do for them to be able to ameliorate the suffering Nigerians are going through today,” Obi advised. He also implored young people, allegedly involved in political violence, not to permit themselves to be exploited by politicians. "I call on the youths that are being used. The abuse you are allowing them to use you for today will take its revenge on you,” he warned.
"We are not coming here fighting anybody because our elections will be run on ideas, on issues. And I urge people to please let’s concentrate on that. Let’s not allow a country to get into anarchy. Anarchy consumes everybody,” he concluded.
Government Awareness Questioned by Obi
Drawing on his experience as a former governor, Mr. Obi expressed skepticism that the incident could have transpired without the full knowledge of the state government and security agencies. "I have been governor myself. I know that this cannot happen without the government and security agencies in this state being fully aware that I am here,” he remarked.
He recalled his eight-year tenure as governor of Anambra State, stating that he would have intervened had a similar incident occurred under his watch. Obi also questioned the justification for preventing his movement within Benue during the campaign period. "This is a campaign period. I did not come here on election day so you cannot say I came disturbing the election,” he clarified. He further mentioned a previous instance where he had turned back from visiting Benue after the governor reportedly indicated an unwillingness to meet him. "Remember last time I wanted to come, the governor said he did not want to see me. I turned back. But now is the election period where as a presidential candidate I am free to move around because election campaigns have started,” Obi stated. He reiterated that his objective was simply to observe the conditions in the state firsthand and interact with residents.
Benue State Government Responds
In response to the incident, the Benue State government accused Mr. Obi of deliberately seeking conflict. Solomon Iorpev, the Commissioner for Information, made this statement while addressing the disruption of Obi's convoy during his Tuesday visit to the state.
Mr. Iorpev argued that Obi ought to have formally informed the state government in advance of his visit, characterising the former governor's actions as a breach of protocol. The commissioner added that given Obi's prominence as a former governor and significant political figure, the government bore the responsibility of arranging adequate security for him. "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 stated.
He continued: "We are supposed to guarantee his safety and protection, but in an instance where no letter was written, we could not guarantee his safety. This is not the first time he is doing this. He is just looking for our trouble. We are peace loving and hospitable people,” he concluded. Mr. Iorpev also mentioned that he was unaware of the individuals who blocked the convoy but noted that Obi’s visit coincided with a meeting involving youths from all 23 Local Government Areas of Benue.