The Benue State Government has denied having prior knowledge of the visit of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), to the state, rejecting allegations that Governor Hyacinth Alia or his aides were responsible for an alleged attack on Obi’s convoy.
Obi reportedly visited Benue State on Tuesday as part of efforts to sympathise with victims of the 2025 Yelewata massacre. However, his convoy was allegedly blocked by a mob along the Gboko Road while attempting to gain access into the state.
Videos shared on X by Esther Umoh, Obi’s photographer, showed a group of people reportedly pursuing the convoy as it moved through the North-Central state.
Obi subsequently alleged that his movement was obstructed by “thugs”, claiming that the group was allegedly led by an aide to Governor Alia.
The former Anambra State governor said his visit was not for political campaigning but to express solidarity with families affected by the Yelewata killings.
However, the Benue State Government has strongly rejected the allegations.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alia, described Obi’s claims as unfounded and an attempt to drag the governor and the people of Benue into what he characterised as an internal political dispute within the NDC.
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“The allegations are unfounded and a desperate attempt to drag Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Benue people into what may be an internal political matter within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC),” Kula said.
The governor’s spokesperson further stated that the state government had no prior knowledge of Obi’s visit.
“We wish to emphatically deny that the government of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has an idea of what Mr. Obi is talking about,” he said.
Kula maintained that Obi did not constitute a political threat to Governor Alia, arguing that there would have been no reason for the state government to deploy thugs against him.
According to him, if Obi had formally notified the authorities of his movement, the appropriate security agencies would have been available to provide the necessary protection and address any potential security concerns.
He described Governor Alia as a “peace-loving Reverend gentleman” who, according to him, neither supports nor employs thuggery as an instrument of governance or security.
The statement also shifted attention to the issue of security protocol, with Kula questioning why Obi allegedly travelled into the state without formally notifying the relevant authorities.
“It is therefore curious that an individual presenting himself as a presidential candidate could arrive in a state without the relevant security authorities being formally informed of his movement,” he said.
Kula explained that a visit by a presidential candidate would ordinarily require coordination with security agencies, including the Commissioner of Police and other relevant authorities.
He suggested that proper notification would have enabled the security agencies to make appropriate arrangements for Obi’s movement and prevent any potential disruption.
The governor’s spokesperson also questioned Obi’s decision to associate the alleged incident with Governor Alia and the Benue State Government.
“We really find it difficult to understand the basis for Mr. Obi’s attempt to connect every fabrication with the Benue State Government, and Governor Hyacinth Alia in the first instance,” Kula said.
He accused Obi of attempting to manufacture a political controversy where, according to the state government, none existed.
“The Alia administration will not be distracted by attempts to manufacture political controversies where none exists,” he added.
The government nevertheless stressed that Benue remained open to visitors and political actors, provided their activities were peaceful and legitimate.
“Benue remains open to legitimate visitors, political actors and all Nigerians who come in peace,” Kula said.
The conflicting accounts have heightened concerns over the security of political figures as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While Obi maintains that he was prevented from visiting victims of the Yelewata massacre, the Benue Government insists it had no knowledge of his arrival and denies any involvement in the alleged obstruction of his convoy.