The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has arrived in Jos, Plateau State, shortly after leaving Benue State where his movement was reportedly blocked by youths.
Obi was in Benue to visit families of victims of the June 2025 massacre in Yelewata when his convoy was stopped at Gyado Villa along Gboko Road.
The former Anambra State governor described the incident as unacceptable and called on security agencies to intervene and ensure political actors are protected during the election season.
“I’m using this occasion to appeal to the IG of police, the Director of DSS, and other agencies to please intervene and call various state governors to order, I was a governor myself,” Obi said.
He warned that allowing such incidents to continue could create room for retaliatory actions, stressing that the responsibility for protecting citizens and political leaders rests with government security agencies.
“This rascality cannot be allowed, we have a country, we too have followers and people who can confront these people on our own if the state and the government can no longer provide us security,” he stated.
Obi said the incident reinforced the need for greater unity, justice and issue based politics ahead of the 2027 general election.
He said political campaigns should focus on challenges affecting Nigerians, including insecurity, killings, hunger and poverty, rather than confrontation among political supporters.
“We cannot go on this way, it’s not acceptable,” Obi said.
He added that political leaders should work towards building a country where disagreements are resolved through democratic engagement and not violence.
The incident has continued to generate reactions, with human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, warning those responsible against what he described as dangerous provocation.
Obi’s running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, also called on the international community to provide protection for opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 elections.
