The Benue state government has denied having prior knowledge of the visit of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
On Tuesday, Suspected a mob blocked Obi’s convoy at Gboko road while he was attempting to access the state.
In a series of videos shared on X by Esther Umoh, Obi’s photographer, the mob was seen chasing after the NDC presidential candidate’s convoy in the north-central state.
The former governor of Anambra said he came to the state not for campaign but to sympathise with victims of the 2025 Yelewata massacre, but was denied access by “thugs” allegedly led by one of the governor’s aides.
However, in a statement on Tuesday, Tersoo Kula, chief press secretary to Hyacinth Alia, the state governor, rejected Obi’s claims, describing them as “lies” aimed at tarnishing the image of his principal.
“The allegations are unfounded and desperate attempt to drag Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Benue people into what may be an internal political matter within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC),” the statement reads.
“We wish to emphatically deny that the government of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has an idea of what Mr. Obi is talking about.”
Kula said Obi was not a threat to Alia, adding that even if he visited the state, security agencies were available to handle any security concern.
He described Alia as “a peace-loving Reverend gentleman” who is averse to thuggery and does not “engage, patronize, or deploy thugs as instruments of governance or security”.
Kula also accused Obi of failing to follow the required security protocol by visiting the state without formally informing the relevant authorities.
“It is therefore curious that an individual presenting himself as a presidential candidate could arrive in a state without the relevant security authorities being formally informed of his movement,” he said.
Kula added that such a visit would require security coordination involving the commissioner of police and other relevant security agencies.
The CPS said the government was also finding it difficult to understand Obi’s decision to link the incident to Alia.
“We really find it difficult to understand the basis for Mr. Obi’s attempt to connect every fabrication with the Benue State Government, and Governor Hyacinth Alia in the first instance,” he said.
“The Alia administration will not be distracted by attempts to manufacture political controversies where none exists.
“Benue remains open to legitimate visitors, political actors and all Nigerians who come in peace.”
