A fresh war of words has erupted between Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi and Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia’s office, following the blockade of Obi’s convoy in Makurdi on Tuesday, CDA News Nigeria reports.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that Obi’s convoy was stopped by a mob along Gboko Road near the Air Force Base, as he attempted to reach Yelewata to sympathise with victims of the 2025 massacre in the community.
In videos shared by his campaign photographer, Esther Umoh, men carrying clubs, stones and sticks were seen pursuing Obi’s vehicles and hurling objects as the convoy turned back.
Reacting, Alia’s chief press secretary, Tersoo Kula, dismissed Obi’s account as “lies” and a “desperate attempt” to drag the governor into what he called an internal NDC matter, insisting the state government had no idea Obi was visiting.
Kula further accused Obi of breaching security protocol by failing to formally notify state authorities before arriving, arguing that as a former governor, Obi understood the importance of such courtesy.
Obi, however, maintained the visit was a condolence trip rather than a political outing, and accused the government of politicising a humanitarian gesture, a claim the NDC’s Benue governorship candidate, Terhemba Shija, echoed, alleging the thugs were sponsored by the state.
Tuesday’s incident marks the second time Obi’s access to Benue has been disrupted, after a similar standoff in April 2025 over a planned IDP camp visit.
CDA News Nigeria will continue to follow this developing story.
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