NDC presidential candidate says youths stopped his convoy from visiting families affected by deadly attacks; Benue Government denies involvement
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has accused an aide to Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia of mobilising youths who blocked his convoy and prevented him from reaching Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of the state.
Obi made the allegation on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, after his convoy was stopped along the Gboko Road in Makurdi while he was travelling to Yelewata to sympathise with families affected by deadly attacks.
In a statement, Obi said he was in Benue to express condolences to families who had lost more than 200 people in terrorist attacks and to offer support to communities affected by insecurity and poverty.
“I am currently in Benue State to express my condolences to the families who have lost over 200 members to terrorist attacks in recent times. However, I have been informed that youths, led by the Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor, have blocked the road to prevent me from proceeding,” Obi said.
He said he waited for some time in the hope that the protesters would reconsider their action, but the roadblock prevented him from continuing his journey.
Reports from the scene indicated that the protesters chanted “Obi go back” as they blocked the road near the Nigerian Air Force Base and Makurdi Airport. Some reports also said some members of the crowd were carrying sticks and throwing objects as Obi’s convoy attempted to leave.
Obi: ‘We cannot continue like this’
Reacting to the incident, Obi criticised the use of young people in political disputes, arguing that many of the youths facing the protesters were themselves affected by poverty and insecurity.
“We cannot continue like this. There are people who are hungry and insecure. These are the same people we must lift out of poverty by creating opportunities for them to earn a livelihood. That is one of the key purposes of my visit,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor also described the incident as unacceptable, saying political differences should not prevent people from visiting communities affected by violence to offer condolences and assistance.
According to reports, Obi eventually abandoned the trip and returned to the airport after the roadblock, where he boarded his aircraft and left the state.
Benue Government denies involvement
The Benue State Government has denied any involvement in the blockade and rejected Obi’s allegation that a government official mobilised youths to stop him.
Governor Alia’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, said the state government was not aware of Obi’s visit and questioned why the visit had not been formally communicated to the relevant authorities for security coordination.
The government described Obi’s allegation as unfounded and said it would not allow itself to be drawn into what it described as a possible internal political matter within the NDC.
Benue State Commissioner for Information, Solomon Iorpev, similarly said he did not know who was behind the youths who blocked Obi’s convoy. He said Obi, as a high-profile visitor and former governor, should have formally notified the state government so that appropriate security arrangements could be made.
Police confirm roadblock
The Benue State Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, said the police command had been informed about Obi’s planned visit on Monday night and had deployed officers to provide security for his movement.
He said officers were deployed under the command of the Area Commander for Operations, but youths nevertheless blocked the road.
Nwadiogbu said the police were investigating why the youths took the action and commended Obi for turning back, saying his decision helped prevent the situation from escalating.
The circumstances surrounding who organised the protest and whether any government official was directly involved had not been independently established as of Tuesday evening.
The incident comes as Benue continues to grapple with deadly attacks and displacement, particularly in communities affected by the violence in Guma Local Government Area. Obi’s planned visit to Yelewata was intended to be a humanitarian engagement with families affected by the killings.
For now, Obi’s allegation against the governor’s aide remains an allegation, while the Benue State Government has expressly denied responsibility for the blockade.