NDC presidential candidate was heading to communities affected by killings when suspected thugs barricaded Gboko Road; police launch investigation
UNITY TIMES POLITICAL DESK
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What was meant to be a visit of condolence to victims of insecurity in Benue State has turned into a fresh political controversy after the convoy of 2027 presidential candidate Peter Obi was blocked by a mob in Makurdi.
Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), arrived in Benue on Tuesday to meet families and communities affected by recent killings in the state.
But his convoy was stopped along Gboko Road, near the Nigerian Air Force Base and Makurdi Airport, where a group of youths reportedly barricaded the road and prevented the convoy from proceeding.
Videos circulating from the scene showed men carrying sticks and other objects confronting the convoy. In footage reviewed by Premium Times, the convoy appeared to turn back while the group pursued the vehicles and threw objects in their direction. Police officers were also seen attempting to separate the two sides.
The incident has immediately raised questions about the increasingly heated political atmosphere ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 elections.
“This is totally unacceptable”
Obi, visibly angry over the incident, condemned the blockade. According to reports, he said he had travelled to Benue to sympathise with victims of the state’s security crisis and questioned why youths would be mobilised to prevent him from visiting affected communities.
He also alleged that the youths were being directed by a government aide. “The rascality they are bringing into this country is totally unacceptable.”
Obi argued that young people already suffering from poverty and insecurity should not be used as instruments of political confrontation. The allegation that a government aide was involved, however, has not been independently established. That distinction is important.
The Benue State Government has denied involvement and said it was not aware of Obi’s visit to the state. The government also rejected any suggestion that it authorised or sponsored the blockade.
Police confirm obstruction
The Benue State Police Command has acknowledged that youths obstructed Obi’s convoy and said an investigation has commenced. The police confirmation adds weight to the fact that a serious disruption occurred, although the identity, motive and organisers of those involved remain subjects of investigation.
That distinction matters because early accounts of the incident have varied. Some reports have described the group as “thugs” or a “mob”, while others have referred to them as protesters. What appears established at this stage is that a group of people blocked the road and confronted the presidential candidate’s convoy.
Whether the incident was spontaneous or organised—and who may have organised it—remains a critical unanswered question.
Why was Obi in Benue?
The political significance of the incident is amplified by the reason for Obi’s visit. Benue has endured repeated attacks and communal violence, making insecurity one of the most emotionally charged issues in the state.
Obi said his visit was intended to express sympathy with victims and their families.
The irony was therefore difficult to miss: a presidential candidate visiting a state to speak with victims of violence was himself prevented from reaching them by a confrontation on the road.
For a country preparing for another fiercely contested presidential election, that should concern more than one political party.
A dangerous road to 2027
Nigeria has witnessed political violence before. But every election cycle presents a new test of whether political competition can remain within the boundaries of democratic disagreement.
Candidates must be able to travel. Citizens must be able to attend political meetings. Opposition parties must be able to organise. And political disagreements must not turn roads, public spaces or communities into battlegrounds.
The incident is particularly significant because Obi is one of the major opposition figures positioning himself for the 2027 presidential election.
His convoy was blocked in a state where political tensions are already high, while the country is simultaneously experiencing an increasingly aggressive realignment of political forces.
Omoyele Sowore, another opposition presidential contender, has already condemned the incident, describing it as political “brigandage” and alleging that the blockade appeared sponsored. That allegation, too, remains unproven.
The question Benue must answer
The immediate question is simple: Who organised the blockade—and why? If it was spontaneous protest, authorities should explain what triggered it. If it was criminal activity, those responsible should be identified and prosecuted.
And if investigators establish that political actors deliberately mobilised youths to obstruct an opposition presidential candidate, the matter becomes considerably more serious. That would not merely be a traffic incident. It would raise questions about political freedom, the right of candidates to campaign and the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process.
For now, the police investigation should be allowed to establish the facts. But one lesson is already clear. Nigeria cannot afford to enter 2027 with political competition becoming another source of violence.
A country already struggling with terrorism, banditry, communal conflict and economic hardship needs its politicians to compete fiercely—but peacefully.
Benue’s people have already paid too high a price for insecurity. They should not have to pay another price for politics.
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