The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has alleged that the Benue State Government sponsored the blockade of Peter Obi’s convoy during the former Anambra State governor’s visit to the state on Tuesday.
Sowore claimed the incident, in which a crowd reportedly stopped Obi and members of his delegation from proceeding into Makurdi while chanting for him to leave, was deliberately organised to prevent the former governor from entering the state capital.
He said the alleged presence of a special adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia among the crowd further strengthened his suspicion that the action was government-sponsored.
“The clearer indication that the government was involved was actually made available by Mr. Peter Obi himself, who stated clearly that one of the special advisers to the governor was seen as part of the crowd that was chanting, ‘Peter Obi, go back,’” Sowore said.
“My position is that nobody should be prevented from going anywhere in Nigeria. You need not doubt that this was government-sponsored.”
The AAC candidate also alleged that the conduct of the crowd and security agencies at the scene suggested that the authorities were aware of those involved in the incident.
“I think the state governor or his people have responded as expected—they know who did it, and I’m sure they were part of the planning to prevent him from entering Makurdi, and that’s a shame,” he added.
Despite his political differences with Obi, Sowore said his disagreements with the former presidential candidate were ideological rather than personal.
He insisted that no Nigerian should be prevented from moving freely or campaigning because of political affiliation.
“I don’t want any harm to come upon him, any member of his delegation, or his campaign team wherever they go in Nigeria,” he said.
Sowore warned that the incident could be a sign of a wider pattern of political intimidation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“They are just testing the waters. If this works, then nobody is safe; you will find more of these kinds of intimidation attacks, and it will quickly snowball into assassinations,” he said.
He urged Nigerians and political candidates to reject intimidation and violence, while calling on the authorities to identify and sanction those responsible for the incident.
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