The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has alleged that the Benue State Government may have been involved in the disruption of Peter Obi’s visit to the state.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate, was reportedly prevented from proceeding with his delegation during a visit to Benue State on Tuesday after a crowd blocked his convoy and chanted for him to leave the area.
Sowore, while reacting to the development, argued that the incident should not be dismissed as an isolated confrontation involving unidentified individuals. He alleged that the circumstances surrounding the incident raised questions about possible involvement by government officials.
According to Sowore, the alleged presence of a special adviser to Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia among the people at the scene strengthened his suspicion that the disruption may have been coordinated.
“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.
He added that no Nigerian should be prevented from travelling to or visiting any part of the country because of political differences.
“My position is that nobody should be prevented from going anywhere in Nigeria. You need not doubt that this was government-sponsored,” he alleged.
Sowore further questioned the conduct of the crowd and security personnel during the incident, suggesting that authorities should be able to establish the identities of those involved and determine what led to the confrontation.
“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.
Sowore Separates Political Differences From Right to Free Movement
Despite his ideological differences with Obi, Sowore said his criticism of the former Anambra governor should not be interpreted as support for actions aimed at restricting his movement or political activities.
He maintained that political disagreements should be settled through democratic engagement rather than intimidation, confrontation or violence.
“I don’t want any harm to come upon him, any member of his delegation, or his campaign team wherever they go in Nigeria,” Sowore said.
The AAC presidential candidate also expressed concern that incidents of this nature could become more frequent as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.
He warned that allowing political intimidation to go unchecked could create an environment in which increasingly serious acts of violence become normalised.
“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.
Call for Investigation
Sowore called on relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disruption and establish who was responsible.
He urged political actors and their supporters to respect the rights of other citizens, regardless of their political affiliations, while calling for greater protection of political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
The allegations have added to growing concerns over political tolerance and the freedom of movement of political figures as parties and prospective candidates begin positioning themselves ahead of the next general elections.
However, the allegation that the Benue State Government sponsored the incident remains an allegation and would require confirmation from the relevant authorities or other independent evidence.
The development also highlights the importance of maintaining political tolerance and ensuring that security agencies protect the rights of citizens and political actors to move freely and participate in lawful political activities.