Benue NDC Accuses Alia Government of Plotting to Disrupt Peter Obi’s Visit

The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Benue State, Terhemba Shija, has accused the state government of attempting to disrupt a planned visit by the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Benue State Government has denied the allegation, describing it as false, baseless and mischievous.

Shija made the allegation while addressing journalists in Makurdi on Tuesday. He said Obi was scheduled to visit the state on Wednesday for a town hall meeting in Makurdi and a humanitarian visit to Yelewata community.

The visit to Yelewata is expected to include a tribute to victims of the June 2025 massacre and a meeting with their bereaved families.

According to Shija, the state government had been formally notified of the visit but allegedly issued threats intended to prevent Obi from visiting the community.

He recalled an earlier attempt to stop the former Anambra State governor from visiting Yelewata, adding that the planned trip would combine humanitarian and political engagements.

Shija said Obi would lay a wreath at the cenotaph erected in memory of the victims along Lafia Road and meet relatives of those killed. He added that the presidential candidate would not visit any government facility or internally displaced persons’ camp.

The NDC governorship candidate further alleged that the government was uncomfortable with the visit because of its possible political implications ahead of the 2027 elections.

“The visit of Mr Peter Obi is going to be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere. We are not going to engage in any violence, but it must hold and it must be successful. The Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, will not yield to any blackmail or intimidation,” he said.

However, Benue State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Solomon Iorpev, rejected the allegation in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Iorpev accused the NDC of attempting to create the impression that the government would be responsible for any disruption of Obi’s visit.

“This allegation is false, baseless and mischievous. It is speculation dressed up as fact, and it is meant to prepare the ground for a familiar script to stage a disruption, blame the government, and harvest sympathy. This is political content creation, not truth-telling,” he said.

The commissioner maintained that Benue remained welcoming to visitors and insisted that the government had no reason to fear Obi’s visit.

He said Governor Hyacinth Alia was focused on rebuilding the state, improving security and delivering development projects rather than engaging in political distractions.

Iorpev also warned the NDC against using the Yelewata massacre as a political campaign tool, describing the tragedy as a deeply sensitive issue for the state.

“We mourn with the families of the victims every day. No one should turn that grief into a political stage, and no one should use a visit meant to console the bereaved as material for a publicity campaign,” he said.

The commissioner added that the government was responsible for the safety of visitors and would take necessary steps to ensure peaceful movement and interactions during the visit.

He warned that security agencies would deal firmly with anyone attempting to cause disorder, regardless of political affiliation.