Benue: Thugs block Peter Obi ’s convoy on highway

The planned visit of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, to parts of Benue state was disrupted on Tuesday September 8, 2026 after protesters reportedly barricaded the road along the Nigerian Air Force Base and prevented his convoy from proceeding further.

Obi had arrived in the state for a condolence visit to communities affected by recent killings, but his convoy was stopped along the Gboko Road, with reports indicating that the road was blocked by a group of youths carrying sticks and chanting against his presence in the state.

Videos circulating from the scene showed a large gathering of people around the route as the former Anambra State governor and members of his entourage were held back. The incident caused tension in the area and disrupted movement along the road. Blueprint reports

Obi alleges political mobilisation

Speaking at the scene, Obi alleged that the youths had been mobilised to prevent him from reaching the communities he intended to visit.

The NDC presidential candidate said he had travelled to Benue not for a campaign rally but to sympathise with victims of killings and show solidarity with affected communities.

According to reports from the scene, Obi said he was informed that youths allegedly led by a government aide had been mobilised to block the road and prevent him from proceeding.

He described the development as unacceptable and expressed concern that political differences were being allowed to interfere with humanitarian gestures towards communities affected by insecurity.

Obi also questioned the circumstances surrounding the blockade, saying his visit was known and that there was no reason for him to be prevented from paying his respects to people who had lost loved ones.

Benue government denies knowledge of visit

However, the Benue state government has distanced itself from the incident and said it was not aware that Obi was visiting the state.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Kula Tersoo, said the state government was unaware of Obi’s arrival and questioned why the former governor and presidential candidate was not properly coordinated with the relevant authorities.

The government spokesman also suggested that, as a presidential candidate and former governor, Obi should have had appropriate security arrangements around his movement and that the host state’s security structure ought to have been informed ahead of such a visit.

Security involvement questioned

The government’s position contrasts with Obi’s claim that his itinerary was known and that his visit had been communicated.

Initial reports also alleged the involvement of security operatives in restricting the convoy, but details surrounding the role of security personnel remained unclear as of the time of filing this report.

While some reports attributed the obstruction to suspected political thugs, other accounts described those at the scene as protesters.

The identities of those who organised the road blockade and whether any arrests were made were not immediately clear.

The allegation that the protesters were sponsored by political actors had also not been independently established at the time of filing.

Visit comes amid heightened political activity

The incident comes as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections begin to intensify, with Obi already confirmed as the presidential candidate of the NDC.

His planned Benue visit was presented by his team as a humanitarian and condolence mission to communities affected by recent violence rather than a campaign event.

The disruption has nevertheless raised fresh questions about political tolerance and the ability of opposition figures to move freely across states ahead of the 2027 elections.

Benue has remained one of the states heavily affected by insecurity, with repeated attacks on communities and significant loss of lives. Against that background, Obi said his intention was to identify with affected residents and express solidarity with families who had lost loved ones.

The confrontation has now added a political dimension to what was intended as a condolence visit, with competing accounts emerging over who organised the blockade and why.

Fresh concerns over political tolerance

The development is likely to fuel wider debate over political tolerance in the build-up to the 2027 elections, particularly over whether political disagreements should prevent opposition politicians from visiting communities or interacting with residents.

Nigeria’s electoral environment has historically been marked by intense rivalry between political parties, but the latest incident has again highlighted concerns about the conduct of political actors and their supporters as the country moves closer to another general election.

For Obi and his supporters, the incident is being viewed as an unacceptable attempt to restrict his movement and prevent him from showing solidarity with victims of insecurity.

For the Benue state government, however, the immediate issue is its claim that it was not informed about the visit and therefore could not properly coordinate security arrangements.

As of the time of filing, there was no official indication of whether the state government would launch an investigation into the incident or whether security authorities would identify those responsible for the blockade.

The circumstances surrounding the confrontation therefore remain subject to further clarification, even as the incident continues to generate reactions across the political space.

With the 2027 elections approaching, the episode has once again placed the question of political tolerance, freedom of movement and the responsibility of political actors and security agencies under scrutiny.