Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 elections, released a video showing how his convoy was stopped by a hostile crowd in Benue state on Tuesday, September 8. Obi was attempting to visit Yelwata, a community recently hit by a terrorist attack, to pay condolences to affected families.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Obi said his convoy arrived in Benue at about 9 a.m. and was met by a crowd chanting, "Peter Obi, go back." The former Anambra governor emphasized that the visit was a humanitarian mission, not a political campaign stop, and described himself as "deeply distressed" by the hostility.
Obi's Statement and Vow
Obi said Nigeria ought to be a country where protecting human life comes before political calculations. Despite being unable to enter Yelwata, he said his thoughts and prayers remained with the victims, their families, and the wider community.
In his statement, Obi vowed not to back down until the lives of all Nigerians are safeguarded. He said via X: "Although we were unable to reach the community today, our thoughts and prayers remain steadfastly with the victims, their families, and the entire Yelwata community. We shall continue to work until the primary responsibility of government - the safeguarding of every Nigerian life - is restored. Until then, we cannot truly say we have built the nation our people deserve."
Ally Raises Concerns Over Pre-Positioned Groups
Moses Paul, a close ally of Obi, corroborated the account of the convoy's arrival and subsequent blockade. Paul claimed that information passed to the team suggested multiple groups had been organised and placed at different points along the road from the airport to Yelwata.
Furthermore, the ex-National Assembly aspirant alleged that the state governor's senior special adviser on youths was involved in coordinating some of these groups, and that certain individuals in the crowd were carrying knives, clubs, and firearms. Paul noted that these claims were based on information communicated to the team and were not independently confirmed.
Questions Over Democracy and Security
Paul questioned why security agencies allowed a presidential candidate to be turned back while visiting victims of violence, arguing that such freedom of movement is a basic democratic right. He said the incident went beyond Obi or the NDC and raised fundamental questions about the health of Nigeria's democracy.
Paul said what the people of Yelwata truly needed was security, justice, compensation, and rehabilitation, not political manoeuvring. He argued that the events of Tuesday, September 8, exposed the urgent need for a political environment where candidates can move freely, citizens can associate without fear, and security agencies serve all Nigerians without bias.
Kwankwaso Condemns Blockade
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice presidential candidate of the NDC, condemned the blockade of Obi's convoy during his journey to Benue state. Kwankwaso, in a social media post, described the incident as a threat to democracy and called on the Benue state government to identify and prosecute those responsible.
