Benue Govt Denies Blocking Peter Obi Convoy

The Benue State Government has denied allegations that it deployed thugs to block the convoy of Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi, preventing him from reaching Yelwata on a humanitarian visit. Videos circulated showing youths barricading Gboko Road in Makurdi on Tuesday, September 7, 2026, chanting slogans against Obi and halting his movement for several hours. Obi stated that he was informed the youths were mobilized by a Special Assistant to the state government and condemned the incident as "rascality." He had intended to visit communities affected by killings in Yelwata in June 2025. In response, the Benue State Government, through Chief Press Secretary Tersoo Kula, rejected the claims, stating the administration "neither engages nor deploys thugs as instruments of governance or security." Kula questioned the protocol of Obi's visit, suggesting that a presidential candidate should formally notify relevant security authorities, including the Commissioner of Police and the Director of the Department of State Services, to ensure adequate security arrangements.