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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Benue PDP governorship candidate condemns blockade of Peter Obi’s convoy

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Benue PDP governorship candidate Michael Aondoakaa condemned the blockade of Peter Obi’s convoy in Makurdi as an attack on democratic rights.
  • He said the incident violated freedom of movement and breached a peace accord requiring political actors to allow opponents to campaign without intimidation.
  • Aondoakaa said the incident damaged Benue’s image but should not be taken as representative of the state’s people.

Michael Aondoakaa, the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in Benue State, has condemned the blockade of Peter Obi’s convoy in Makurdi, calling it a disgraceful assault on democracy.

In a statement issued by his media assistant, James Ian, Aondoakaa said the Constitution protects Nigerians’ rights to freedom of movement, association and political participation. “No individual, group or government has the authority to deny any Nigerian access to any part of the country on account of political affiliation,” he said.

No individual, group or government has the authority to deny any Nigerian access to any part of the country on account of political affiliation.

· Michael AondoakaaHe cited constitutional rights while condemning the blockade of Peter Obi’s convoy.

Aondoakaa, a former justice minister and attorney-general of the federation, said President Bola Tinubu had repeatedly stressed that presidential candidates and other political leaders should be free to travel across Nigeria, meet citizens and seek support ahead of the 2027 general elections. He said obstructing or attacking a political leader contradicted democratic competition and the president’s call for a peaceful and inclusive political process.

Democracy thrives on the free exchange of ideas, not on violence and political intolerance.

· Michael AondoakaaHe described the incident as contrary to democratic competition and a political peace accord.

He also said the incident violated a recently signed peace accord under which parties and candidates committed to issue-based campaigns, nonviolence and allowing opponents to move freely and engage with voters. “Democracy thrives on the free exchange of ideas, not on violence and political intolerance,” Aondoakaa said.

The PDP candidate said the episode portrayed Benue negatively to Nigeria and the international community. He argued, however, that the actions of a few politically motivated individuals should not define the state’s people, whom he described as known for hospitality, civility and respect for visitors. He added that the incident came as residents mourned hundreds of deaths from repeated attacks and faced widespread insecurity.

Benue people are renowned for their hospitality, civility and respect for visitors.

· Michael AondoakaaHe said the actions of a few individuals did not represent the character of Benue’s people.
About this summary

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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