Peter Obi’s planned visit to Benue State has reopened a political fault line, with fresh allegations of intimidation threatening to overshadow his humanitarian mission to a community still mourning victims of a deadly massacre. While his party accuses the state government of plotting to frustrate the visit, Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration has dismissed the claims and insists the presidential candidate is free to enter the state.
Obi, the Nigerian Democratic Congress presidential candidate, is expected in Benue on Wednesday for a town hall meeting in Makurdi and a humanitarian visit to Yelewata, where he intends to honour victims of the June 2025 massacre and commiserate with their families.
The NDC’s governorship candidate in the state, Terhemba Shija, raised the alarm on Tuesday while addressing journalists in Makurdi.
He alleged that the state government had issued threats aimed at preventing Obi from visiting Yelewata and called on security agencies to guarantee the safety of the candidate and his supporters.
Shija said the party had formally notified the government and security agencies of the visit and was ready to submit its itinerary to support security arrangements. He stressed that the notification was meant to ensure a peaceful visit, not to seek permission to carry out the party’s activities.
According to him, Obi’s programme includes laying a wreath at the memorial erected for victims of the Yelewata killings and meeting their relatives. He is also scheduled to attend a town hall meeting at the Mission House multipurpose hall in Makurdi.
Shija clarified that the visit would not involve any government facility or internally displaced persons’ camp.
The NDC candidate further alleged that political interests were driving the opposition to the visit.
He recalled an earlier incident in which suspected supporters of the slogan, “No Alia, No Benue,” allegedly mobilised to stop Obi from accessing Yelewata. He urged supporters to remain peaceful, insisting that the party would not be intimidated or drawn into violence.
Government dismisses claims
The Benue State Government has rejected the allegations, describing them as false and misleading.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Solomon Iorpev, said the government had no reason to prevent Obi or any other Nigerian from visiting the state, including politicians seeking electoral support.
The government, however, cautioned the NDC against turning the Yelewata tragedy into a political campaign, insisting that the suffering of victims and their families must be treated with respect. It also warned that security agencies would deal with anyone attempting to cause disorder, regardless of political affiliation.
A history of disrupted visits
The latest dispute revives memories of previous controversies surrounding Obi’s visits to Benue.
In April 2025, his planned visit to an internally displaced persons’ camp was reportedly halted by the state administration, which cited security and protocol concerns.
Another confrontation occurred on September 8, 2026, when Obi’s convoy was reportedly blocked by suspected thugs along Gboko Road in Makurdi as he attempted to visit Yelewata and sympathise with families affected by the massacre.
The incident forced the convoy to turn back, while police subsequently arrested 46 suspects in connection with the disruption.
The episode triggered political exchanges, with the state government accusing Obi of failing to follow security procedures, while opposition figures alleged that the blockade was politically motivated.
Despite the controversies, Obi has previously visited Benue without major disruption, including during his 2023 presidential campaign.
With the 2027 general elections drawing closer, Wednesday’s visit is shaping up as another test of political tolerance in Benue, as attention turns to whether the candidate can complete his humanitarian and political engagements without disruption.
