DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Sowore condemns blockade of Peter Obi’s convoy in Benue

From The Punch · () English

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

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Omoyele Sowore accused those behind a blockade of Peter Obi’s convoy in Makurdi, Benue State, of threatening democratic campaigning rights.
  • Protesters reportedly barricaded Gboko Road as Obi travelled to Benue to offer condolences to victims of killings in the state.
  • The state government denied knowledge of Obi’s visit, while police said they were investigating why youths blocked the convoy.

Omoyele Sowore has condemned what he called an apparent sponsored blockade and attack on Peter Obi’s convoy as the presidential candidate attempted to enter Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, Sowore said videos showed protesters preventing Obi from carrying out campaign activities. “No candidate should be prevented through violence, intimidation or sponsored thuggery from campaigning freely anywhere in Nigeria,” he said.

I have watched videos showing what appears to be a sponsored blockade and attack on NDC presidential candidate @PeterObi as he attempted to enter the state capital to carry out legitimate campaign activities

· Omoyele SoworeSowore described the reported blockade in a statement on X.

Obi was reportedly stopped after protesters barricaded Gboko Road near the Nigerian Air Force Base and Makurdi Airport. Videos showed youths chanting, “We don’t want Peter Obi.”

No candidate should be prevented through violence, intimidation or sponsored thuggery from campaigning freely anywhere in Nigeria

· Omoyele SoworeHe condemned the incident as a threat to democratic campaigning.

Obi said in a video posted by News Central Television that he had travelled to Benue to condole with victims of killings in the state. He said he had been told that youths led by a government aide had decided to block the road and prevent him from reaching the area.

“I was told that youths, led by an SA (Special Assistant) to the government, have decided to block the road and make sure I don’t go there,” Obi said.

I was told that youths, led by an SA (Special Assistant) to the government, have decided to block the road and make sure I don’t go there

· Peter ObiObi described what he had been told about the obstruction.

The Benue State Government denied knowledge of the visit. Kula Tersoo, the chief press secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, said officials were unaware that Obi was coming to the state. The state police command said it knew about Obi’s movement to Yelwata and had provided security for the convoy, but said the reason some youths blocked it remained unknown. Police spokesperson DSP Peter Aondongu said the command was monitoring the situation and investigating the circumstances.

The reason the convoy was blocked by some youths is still unknown. We are monitoring the situation and investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident

· Peter AondonguThe Benue police spokesperson said an investigation was under way.
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.

More Stories

From Our Blog