NDC Alleges Plot To Disrupt Obi’s Benue Visit, Govt Denies Claim

The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Benue State Government of plotting to disrupt the planned visit of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the state, an allegation the government has dismissed as false.

Obi is scheduled to visit Benue State on Wednesday for a town hall meeting in Makurdi and a humanitarian visit to Yelewata, where he is expected to pay tribute to victims of the June 2025 massacre and commiserate with their families.

Addressing journalists in Makurdi on Tuesday, the party’s governorship candidate in the state, Terhemba Shija, called on the state government and security agencies to guarantee the safety of Obi and his supporters.

Shija alleged that the government had issued threats aimed at preventing the former Anambra State governor from visiting Yelewata, recalling an earlier attempt to stop him from visiting the community.

He said the party had notified the state government and security agencies of the planned visit, adding that its arrangements were already in place.

“This letter addressed to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Benue, was received on the 10th of November, which is today.

“While we discuss with the security agency, all they require is that we should send them an itinerary of our visit. I’m going to soon embark on the visit of all the local governments. All I have told the DG to do is to write the itinerary, the times that we’ll be here, and then they will follow,” he said, displaying a copy of the correspondence.

Shija maintained that the party did not require permission from the state government to conduct its political activities but had notified the authorities in the interest of a peaceful visit.

He described Obi’s planned trip as both humanitarian and political, saying the presidential candidate would lay a wreath at the cenotaph erected in memory of the victims of the Yelewata massacre along the Lafia Road.

The NDC governorship candidate said Obi would also meet relatives of the victims but would not visit any government facility or internally displaced persons’ camp.

According to him, the town hall meeting would be held at the multipurpose hall of the Mission House in Makurdi, behind the Benue Links head office in Wurukum.

Shija alleged that the state government was unhappy with Obi’s visit because of its potential political implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He also accused the government of being behind an earlier attempt to disrupt the presidential candidate’s visit to Yelewata, claiming that suspected supporters of the slogan, “No Alia, No Benue”, had mobilised to prevent him from accessing the community.

He, however, urged Obi’s supporters to remain vigilant and peaceful, insisting that the party would not be deterred by the alleged threats.

“The visit of Mr Peter Obi is going to be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere. We are not going to engage in any violence, but it must hold and it must be successful. The Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, will not yield to any blackmail or intimidation,” Shija said.

Reacting to the allegation, the Benue State Government denied any plan to disrupt Obi’s visit, describing the NDC’s claims as false, baseless and mischievous.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Solomon Iorpev, said the government had no reason to prevent any Nigerian from visiting the state, including political figures seeking votes.

“Benue is a land of hospitality, and every Nigerian is free to move within it, including those who seek our votes. The government has no reason to fear any visitor,” the statement read.

The government also cautioned the NDC against using the Yelewata tragedy for political publicity, describing the memory of the victims as sacred to the state.

“We mourn with the families of the victims every day. No one should turn that grief into a political stage, and no one should use a visit meant to console the bereaved as material for a publicity campaign,” it added.

It also urged the NDC to ensure that its supporters and associates conducted themselves peacefully.

“Let no one be left in doubt, though: security agencies will deal firmly with any criminal-minded person who attempts to cause disorder and disrupt the peace, whoever they work for,” the commissioner said.

The disagreement comes amid heightened political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Obi has had his humanitarian and solidarity visits to the state disrupted on two notable occasions, first in April 2025 and again on September 8, 2026.

In April 2025, the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia reportedly halted Obi’s planned visit to an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, citing security concerns and protocol issues.

On September 8, 2026, Obi’s convoy was reportedly blocked by suspected thugs on Gboko Road, near the Nigerian Air Force Base in Makurdi, as he attempted to visit and console families in Yelwata following a massacre. The crowd allegedly mounted roadblocks, threw objects and chanted, “Peter Obi, go back,” forcing him to turn back to avoid escalating tensions. Police arrested 46 suspects following the incident.

The September incident triggered political accusations, with the Benue State Government claiming Obi failed to follow proper protocol and coordinate security arrangements, while opposition figures alleged that the blockade was politically motivated.

Despite the controversies, Obi has visited Benue peacefully on previous occasions, including during his 2023 presidential campaign, when he held rallies and engaged with stakeholders without major disruptions.