Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has condemned the disruption of his visit to Benue State after protesters reportedly blocked a major road in Makurdi and chanted against his presence.
The protesters barricaded the Gboko Road near the Air Force base, disrupting traffic as Obi arrived in the state for a series of engagements.
Obi said he was on his way to the Yelewata community in Guma local government area of Benue state to sympathise with families affected by recent killings when he was stopped by protesters chanting, We don’t want Peter Obi and ordering him to leave.
Describing the incident as “ridiculous and very, very worrisome,” Obi questioned the circumstances surrounding the protest and asked whether such actions were still acceptable in Nigeria.
“I arrived here around 9am and was going to the Yelewata community to condole with families that have been affected by the killings. Over 270 people have been killed in that community,” Obi said.
He said he deliberately remained calm to prevent the situation from escalating and potentially putting lives at risk.
“I wanted to remain civil because I don’t want any confusion and I don’t want anybody’s life to be endangered,” he said.
Obi also appealed to security authorities, particularly the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), to intervene and ensure that political disagreements do not result in restrictions on citizens’ movements.
“This rascality cannot be allowed. We have a country,” the former Anambra State governor said.
He stressed that Nigeria needed greater unity, love and justice, arguing that political campaigns should focus on issues affecting citizens rather than hostility between political actors.
According to Obi, insecurity, kidnapping, hunger, killings and poverty should dominate discussions ahead of the 2027 general election.
He added that, as a presidential candidate, he intended to visit communities across the country to understand their challenges and engage directly with affected residents.
Obi further urged other presidential contenders to undertake similar visits and make the concerns of Nigerians the central focus of their campaigns.
