The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has condemned the reported obstruction of his convoy in Benue State, describing the incident as a reflection of the growing intolerance in Nigerian politics.
Obi spoke on Tuesday after his convoy reportedly encountered a road blockade shortly after entering the state.
The former Anambra State governor explained that his visit to Benue was not for campaign activities but to sympathise with a community that had recently suffered the loss of residents.
“I am in Benue today not for campaigns. I only wanted to go to a place where people lost their lives, to condole and show solidarity with them,” Obi said.
Reacting to the reported incident, Obi expressed concern over what he described as the deterioration of political tolerance in the country.
He argued that political differences should not prevent leaders and citizens from expressing sympathy with communities affected by tragedy.
“You can see the level to which our politics has degenerated,” he stated.
Obi also renewed his call for a change in the nature of political engagement in Nigeria, advocating for greater unity rather than division.
He recalled making a similar appeal a day earlier while attending the inauguration of an office belonging to an Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate.
“That was why yesterday, while joining the APM candidate in launching his office, I used the opportunity to plead with our people, let our next politics be a politics of unity,” he added.
Obi’s Aide Alleges Thugs Blocked Road
Earlier, Obi’s media aide, Esther Umoh, alleged that suspected thugs blocked Boko Road near the Nigerian Air Force Base after the NDC candidate and his entourage arrived in the state.
Umoh shared videos of the incident on 𝕏, claiming that the individuals involved were attempting to prevent Obi’s convoy from proceeding.
“We have just arrived in Benue State, where alleged sponsored thugs have blocked Boko Road by the Air Force Base, attempting to prevent Peter Obi from gaining access into the state,” she wrote.
Another video shared by the aide showed several individuals running behind vehicles believed to be part of Obi’s convoy.
The circumstances surrounding the reported road blockade were not immediately independently established. Obi, however, used the incident to reiterate his appeal for political actors to embrace tolerance and prioritise unity ahead of the 2027 general election.
