The political fallout from the blockade of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi’s convoy in Benue State deepened yesterday as police arrested 46 suspects, amid mounting demands for an investigation to unmask the organisers and financiers of the incident.
Former deputy Senate president and NDC candidate for Delta Central, Ovie Omo-Agege, and the party’s deputy governorship candidate in Cross River State, Stella Archibong, demanded a full investigation, while Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of being behind the incident.
The Nigeria Patriotic Youths Forum (PYF) also joined the outrage, demanding a public apology from Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, while the state’s three major socio-cultural groups — Mdzough U Tiv (MUT), Ochetoha K’Idoma and Omi Ny’Igede — condemned the obstruction and warned against inflaming political tensions.
The police, however, have not linked the 46 suspects arrested to the APC, the Benue State Government or any political organisation, while the state government has denied involvement in the blockade.
Obi’s convoy was obstructed on Tuesday while he was travelling to Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area to sympathise with survivors and families affected by the June 2025 massacre in the community.
The attack, which occurred between June 13 and 14, 2025, left scores of people dead and thousands displaced.
The blockade forced security personnel accompanying Obi to abandon the journey and escort him back to the airport after police concluded that attempting to force the convoy through could trigger violence and possible loss of lives.
Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Cletus Nwadiogbu, who announced the arrests, said the command was formally notified of Obi’s visit at about 5.30 p.m. on Monday, September 7, and consequently deployed three police escort vehicles and personnel led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police.
“Unfortunately, Mr. Obi’s movement was obstructed by a group of persons, creating tension and a situation that could have degenerated into violence.
“At that point, the Police took a professional and tactical decision to avoid an escalation that could have resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property. Mr. Obi was subsequently safely escorted back to the airport and departed the state peacefully,” Nwadiogbu said.
He said the decision not to force the convoy through should not be interpreted as police inaction, adding that intelligence-led operations commenced immediately and resulted in the arrest of 46 suspects.
More suspects, including persons believed to have played key roles in the incident, were being sought.
Nwadiogbu warned that no individual or group had the right to prevent Nigerians from exercising their constitutional freedom of movement.
“Every Nigerian has the right to freedom of movement, irrespective of political affiliation, status or personal belief. No individual or group has the right to unlawfully obstruct another person’s movement,” he said.
Makinde accuses APC
Makinde, who is contesting the 2027 presidential election on the APM platform, alleged that the obstruction by “suspected state-sponsored thugs” represented “a new low” in attempts to stifle opposition.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Digital Communication, Anthony Ehilebo, Makinde said: “It marks a new low in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s desperation to stifle opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections.”
He also challenged the Benue State Government’s reported position that Obi failed to obtain prior permission before visiting the state, insisting that Nigerians did not require a state government’s permission to exercise their constitutional freedom of movement.
“Setting up roadblocks and engaging thugs to stop opposition candidates have no place in a constitutional democracy,” he said.
Makinde provided no evidence linking the APC to those arrested, and police have so far announced no such connection.
The Benue State Government has also denied involvement, rejecting allegations that those who blocked Obi were acting on its behalf.
Omo-Agege, Archibong demand probe
Omo-Agege described the obstruction as a “national disgrace,” demanding that investigators go beyond those physically involved to establish who organised and financed the blockade and who gave the instructions.
“There must be no cover-up, political protection, or convenient silence,” he said.
“What kind of politics has Nigeria descended into when even mourning the dead requires political permission?”
Omo-Agege insisted that the Yelwata tragedy belonged to no political party.
“Yelwata’s tragedy is not the property of the APC, PDP, Labour Party or NDC. The dead belong to Nigeria, and their families belong to all of us.”
He argued that even if Obi had travelled to Yelwata to campaign, his constitutional rights to freedom of movement and association should have been respected.
“No one should need a party card to mourn with the bereaved,” he said.
Archibong also condemned the blockade as “unfortunate and unbecoming of a democratic society,” and demanded an urgent investigation.
“Security agencies and relevant authorities should urgently investigate this incident and bring perpetrators to justice,” she said in Calabar.
She called for calm, expressed solidarity with Obi and wished him continued safety.
Youth group demands Alia’s apology
The Nigeria Patriotic Youths Forum described the obstruction as an abuse of power and demanded an immediate public apology from Alia.
Its National Coordinator, Clifford Obinwanne Chukwuonye, said political differences could not justify infringement on citizens’ constitutional rights.
“We should respect the rule of law and we must respect each other’s fundamental rights, as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution,” he said.
Chukwuonye alleged that the incident represented “an abuse of power” and called on the governor to apologise to Nigerians.
The group warned that the controversy could send a dangerous signal ahead of the 2027 elections if political rivalry was allowed to interfere with freedom of movement and association.
“Today is Mr. Peter Obi; tomorrow it could be anybody. Power is transient, but your deeds will certainly speak good or bad of you,” Chukwuonye said.
It also cautioned youths against allowing politicians to recruit them for violence and intimidation during the election season.
Benue groups condemn blockade
Chairman of Benue’s three major socio-cultural organisations, Air Commodore Agbecha Titus (retd), described the incident as “deeply troubling.”
“We condemn any act that obstructs leaders, dignitaries, or citizens from offering comfort and solidarity to grieving communities,” he said.
Agbecha warned against allowing the actions of a few individuals to portray Benue as hostile to visitors.
“Benue is known for hospitality and dignity. We cannot allow isolated actions to define us or to be used to paint our state as hostile to peace and dialogue.”
He urged residents to channel grievances through dialogue and warned youths against allowing themselves to be manipulated. “The blood already shed in Benue is too much.”
The groups called on security agencies to protect citizens and visitors, particularly those undertaking humanitarian and solidarity visits, and pledged to engage youth leaders and other stakeholders to prevent a recurrence.
Second controversy
The confrontation is the second controversy in less than two years over Obi’s attempt to undertake a humanitarian visit in Benue.
In April 2025, the former Anambra State governor accused the Benue State Government of frustrating his planned visit to internally displaced persons and a nursing school, triggering a public disagreement between him and the government.
With 46 suspects now in police custody and more being sought, attention has shifted beyond those who allegedly physically blocked the convoy to the questions raised by Omo-Agege and others: who organised the blockade, who financed it, what was the motive and was there any political sponsorship?
