2027: Keyamo Condemns Blockade of Peter Obi’s Convoy in Benue

The controversy surrounding Peter Obi’s blocked visit to Yelwata, Benue State, has taken a wider political dimension after Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo condemned the incident.

Obi had travelled to Yelwata to sympathise with victims and families affected by the deadly attack in the community, but his convoy was reportedly stopped by suspected thugs before he could enter the area.

Obi’s camp described the incident as an attempt to prevent the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate from accessing the community and carrying out his planned visit.

The Benue State Government, however, denied involvement in the reported blockade. The government said Obi did not follow the required protocol for his visit, presenting a different account of the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Keyamo has now weighed in on the controversy, condemning the reported obstruction and arguing that such an incident should have no place in Nigeria’s democratic system.

His intervention has added to the political debate surrounding the episode as parties and politicians increasingly intensify their activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The incident has also renewed concerns about the freedom of political figures to visit communities affected by insecurity, particularly when such visits involve meeting victims and residents.

For now, the competing accounts from Obi’s camp and the Benue State Government remain unresolved, while calls for clarity over what happened continue to grow.

The controversy comes against the backdrop of rising political tensions ahead of the 2027 elections, with the conduct of political actors and the protection of democratic freedoms expected to remain major issues in the coming months.