Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has condemned the blockade that prevented Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi from visiting Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area, accusing Governor Hyacinth Alia of being responsible for the incident.
Ortom made the allegation on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, September 9, describing the incident as part of what he called a wider pattern of disregard for the rule of law in Benue State.
“In Benue State, we have a government that does not believe in the rule of law. We have a government in Benue State that is out for lawlessness,” Ortom said.
He condemned the obstruction of Obi’s planned visit to Yelwata, saying the NDC candidate was only seeking to sympathise with families and communities affected by violence.
“I condemn what happened yesterday. It is wrong not to allow Peter Obi to visit Benue and sympathise with those people whose people were killed. It was wrong, and that is the kind of government that we have in Benue State today,” he said.
Ortom further accused Alia of being involved in previous incidents in the state, including a controversy involving the office of the Chief Judge.
“Governor Alia was one person who said, ‘No Alia, no Benue,’ and went to remove a Chief Judge through these thugs. Alia sent tippers with loads of sand to block the Chief Judge’s office,” he alleged.
The former governor also challenged Alia to publicly deny knowledge of the incident under oath.
“I say that it is unfortunate that somebody who is supposed to be a reverend father is telling lies. Can he come out and swear by the Bible that he claims to be a reverend priest and say that he was not aware of what happened yesterday?” Ortom said.
He maintained that his criticism was not motivated by support for Obi but by what he considered a violation of the opposition candidate’s right to move freely.
“I am not supporting Peter Obi. But it is wrong,” he added.
Meanwhile, former Bayelsa State Governor and NDC national leader Seriake Dickson has called for a thorough investigation into the incident and the prosecution of anyone found responsible.
Speaking on Arise TV’s Newsnight on Wednesday, Dickson said allegations of government involvement should be investigated to establish the facts.
He described the incident as unacceptable, particularly given the commencement of political campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections.
“This happening, while campaigns have officially started, sends a very dangerous signal, and the point has to be made clearly that this is not only condemnable, it is criminal,” Dickson said.
He argued that no Nigerian citizen requires permission to visit another state and said the use of alleged thugs to prevent a presidential candidate from travelling was unacceptable.
“No Nigerian citizen, by our Constitution and our laws, needs anyone’s permission or approval to visit a state. More so, when we are dealing with a presidential candidate, a high-profile personality, at a period of political campaigns, you stop the man with thugs. No, that is not encouraging,” he said.
Dickson also said the NDC had informed the Benue State Commissioner of Police about Obi’s planned visit before the incident occurred.
He said he contacted the party’s national chairman after the disruption to establish whether the relevant authorities had been notified and was shown a letter from the NDC state chairman to the Commissioner of Police.
“We have just listened to the remarks that the Commissioner of Police made, even though we were all concerned about what steps the police took at that venue, or to prevent it,” Dickson said.
According to him, notification to the Commissioner of Police amounted to notifying the relevant security authorities in the state.
“Once you have informed the Commissioner of Police about the visit or activities of a politician or a high-profile personality, that is to be treated as information to the state authorities because the Commissioner of Police is the chief law enforcement officer of every state,” he said.
Dickson disclosed that the NDC planned to formally petition the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation over the incident.
He also called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene, arguing that the President had a broader responsibility to protect Nigeria’s democratic order beyond his role as leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“He is sitting at the apex of the political system, and he’s not just President of the APC, he’s not just President of a particular set of people. He is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Dickson said.
The controversy followed the September 8 incident in which Obi’s movement was reportedly blocked as he attempted to visit Yelwata.
The Benue State Police Command subsequently announced arrests in connection with the incident and said investigations were ongoing.
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