Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has arrived in Jos, Plateau State, after an incident involving his convoy in Benue State.
Obi had been in Benue to visit Yelewata and meet families affected by the June 2025 massacre when his movement was reportedly disrupted.
According to the account provided by Obi, his convoy was stopped by a group of youths at Gyado Villa along Gboko Road as he attempted to enter Makurdi.
The former Anambra State governor subsequently appealed to Nigeria’s security agencies to intervene, warning that political tensions should not be allowed to put citizens and opposition figures at risk.
Obi called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services and other security authorities to address the situation.
He also appealed to state governors to ensure that political disagreements do not lead to violence or intimidation.
The NDC candidate said the incident reinforced the need for political leaders to concentrate on issues that directly affect Nigerians rather than confrontation.
According to him, insecurity, hunger, killings and poverty should dominate political discussions ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We need unity, love, justice,” Obi said, adding that political campaigns should focus on ideas and solutions capable of improving the lives of Nigerians.
The incident has continued to generate reactions.
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore condemned the reported blockade and warned those involved that they were “toying with fire.”
Rabi’u Kwankwaso, identified as Obi’s running mate for the 2027 election, also called for greater protection of opposition politicians and urged the international community to pay attention to the safety of political leaders in Nigeria.
Obi later left Benue and proceeded to Jos, where he arrived amid the ongoing reactions to the incident.
The circumstances surrounding the reported confrontation remain a subject of political debate, with calls growing for security agencies to prevent similar incidents from escalating as political activities ahead of 2027 intensify.
