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Benue Govt Denies Blocking Peter Obi From Yelwata, Faults Him For Visiting 'Without Security Notification'
Benue Govt Denies Blocking Peter Obi From Yelwata, Faults Him For Visiting 'Without Security Notification'
POLITICS
The Nigerian Record
9/9/20264 min read
The Benue State Government has rejected allegations by the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, that thugs allegedly working for the state government blocked his convoy from accessing Yelwata, where he reportedly intended to console families affected by the 2025 attacks.
The state government, in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Tersoo Kula, described the allegation as unfounded and an attempt to drag the governor and the people of Benue into what it suggested could be an internal political matter within the NDC.
The government said it "rejected, in the strongest terms," claims by Obi that he was prevented from accessing Yelwata by thugs working for the state government.
According to the statement, "The allegations are unfounded and desperate attempt to drag Governor @HyacinthAlia and the Benue people into what may be an internal political matter within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)."
The government further denied having any knowledge of the alleged incident involving Obi, insisting that the administration of Governor Alia had no connection with what the former presidential candidate was alleging.
"We wish to emphatically deny that the government of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has an idea of what Mr. Obi is talking about," the statement said.
The state government also questioned whether Obi was actually in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Tuesday, citing what it described as his antecedents of making untrue statements against the state.
"Based on his antecedents of making untrue statements against the state, we have every reason to doubt whether he visited Makurdi, the state capital today," it said.
The government maintained that Obi did not pose any threat to Governor Alia, adding that even if the NDC candidate had visited the state and was considered a security threat, the responsibility of dealing with such a situation would rest with the recognised security agencies rather than political thugs.
"Let it be known that Mr. Peter Obi is not a threat to Governor Alia in any way. Even if he actually visited the state, and we realized that he is a threat to anyone, the security agencies are there to handle the issue, not thugs," the statement said.
The government also defended Governor Alia's character and administration, describing him as a peace-loving clergyman who was opposed to the use of thuggery in governance and security.
It added that the administration "does not engage, patronize, or deploy thugs as instruments of governance or security."
According to the government, Alia's administration remains committed to the rule of law and relies on recognised security agencies to maintain peace and order throughout the state.
The government also questioned why a presidential candidate would visit the state without, according to the statement, formally informing the relevant security authorities of his movement.
"It is therefore curious that an individual presenting himself as a presidential candidate could arrive in a state without the relevant security authorities being formally informed of his movement," the statement said.
"Ordinarily, such a visit would attract the attention and necessary security coordination involving the Commissioner of Police and other relevant security agencies," the government said.
The Alia administration further accused Obi of attempting to link what it described as "every fabrication" to the Benue State Government and the governor.
"We really find it difficult to understand the basis for Mr. Obi's attempt to connect every fabrication with the Benue State Government, and Governor Hyacinth Alia in the first instance," it said.
The government suggested that if Obi was facing disagreements or internal political challenges within the NDC's structure in Benue State, such issues should be handled within the party rather than blamed on the state government.
"If Mr. Obi is confronted with disagreements or internal political challenges within his party structure in Benue State, those issues should be resolved within the party rather than being conveniently transferred to the state government," the statement said.
The state government said it would not be distracted by what it described as attempts to manufacture political controversies, insisting that the administration remained focused on governance and the welfare of residents.
"Its attention remains firmly focused on delivering good governance, strengthening security and improving the welfare of the people of Benue State," it said.
The government subsequently urged members of the public to disregard allegations linking the state administration to any incident involving Obi.
"We therefore urge the public to disregard the allegations linking the state government to any incident that happened around the NDC presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi," it said.
It reaffirmed that Benue remained open to visitors, political actors and other Nigerians who visited the state peacefully.
"Benue remains open to legitimate visitors, political actors and all Nigerians who come in peace," the statement added.
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that the Obidient Movement condemned what it described as a "state-backed attempt" to prevent the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, from moving freely in Benue State.
The group accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of being behind the alleged mobilisation of thugs who reportedly barricaded Gboko Road near the Makurdi airport on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, disrupting traffic and allegedly attempting to frustrate Obi's movements and engagements in the state.
In a statement signed by its Media & Communications Directorate, the movement said the incident represented a continuation of what it described as the governor's "systemic obsession to stop Peter Obi."
"The Obidient Movement unequivocally condemns the latest state-backed attempt to block Mr. Peter Obi's freedom of movement in Benue State," the statement said.
The group alleged that "organized thugs, acting under the alleged instructions of Governor Hyacinth Alia, barricaded Gboko Road near the Makurdi airport, bringing traffic to a standstill in a reckless effort to obstruct Obi's movement and prevent his ongoing engagements across the state."
According to the movement, Tuesday's incident was the second time the Alia administration had allegedly taken steps to prevent Obi from freely travelling through Benue.