Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi has spoken after his convoy was reportedly blocked by suspected thugs on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, while travelling through Makurdi, Benue State.

Obi said he was visiting communities affected by the 2025 Yelwata massacre to offer condolences and solidarity, not to campaign for the 2027 election.

Convoy Blocked on Gboko Road

Obi’s media team reported that suspected thugs blocked Gboko Road near the Air Force Base shortly after the delegation arrived in Makurdi. The road is the main route linking the airport with the city.

Videos shared by his photographer and media aide, Esther Umoh, showed people obstructing the road and chasing vehicles in the convoy. Some accounts also reported that stones were thrown during the confrontation.

“This is Gboko road; the entire road is blocked. We just touched down, and this is the only road from the airport into town,” Umoh said.

She added that those blocking the road claimed Obi would not be allowed into the city to meet people he intended to visit, describing the development as unacceptable.

Obi Describes Incident as Political Decline

Speaking to journalists in Makurdi after the incident, Obi said the purpose of his visit was humanitarian.

“I am in Benue not for a campaign. I only wanted to go to a place where people lost their lives and console them, show solidarity with them. But you can see the level at which our politics has degenerated,” he said.

Obi said the incident reinforced the need for a different approach to politics, noting that he had called for “a politics of unity” during his appearance at the inauguration of the Allied Peoples Movement presidential campaign office in Abuja on Monday.

He said Nigerians must build the country with unity, love and a commitment to doing what is right.

Visit to Yelwata Communities

Obi’s planned visit included communities affected by the June 2025 Yelwata massacre in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

The attack, which was among the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years, left scores of people dead, homes destroyed and many residents displaced. Reports have put the death toll at more than 100, with some accounts giving significantly higher figures.

Obi was received in Makurdi by NDC chieftains as the reports of the road blockage emerged.

Benue Government Denies Involvement

The Benue State Government has denied any involvement in the incident.

Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, said the government was not aware of Obi’s visit or the reported obstruction and rejected suggestions that it could have sponsored thugs.

“If the Benue state government is to stop anybody, including Peter Obi, why would the Benue state government go and use thugs? Benue government doesn’t do that,” Kula said.

He described the allegation as an attempt to discredit the governor.

As of Tuesday, the police and other security agencies had not issued a detailed public statement identifying those responsible for the road blockage or confirming their motive.

Obi has continued his engagements in Benue despite the disruption, as the incident adds to the political tensions surrounding the 2027 presidential election.