ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged Nigerian youths to reject violence and refuse to be used by politicians ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi made the appeal in Makurdi, Benue State, on Tuesday after youths suspected to be supporters of a political party blocked his convoy as he travelled to Yelewata to commiserate with families affected by the June 2025 killings.
The former Anambra State governor, who arrived at the Tactical Air Command, Makurdi, around 8am, was received by the NDC governorship candidate in the state, Prof. Terhemba Shija, and other party officials.
According to Channels TV, his convoy reportedly encountered the blockade shortly after leaving the airport, as the youths mounted roadblocks on the two-lane Makurdi-Gboko federal highway.
The action reportedly brought traffic to a standstill, with the protesters chanting, “Peter Obi go back,” while the convoy was prevented from proceeding towards Yelewata.
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Reacting to the development, Obi appealed to young Nigerians not to allow themselves to become instruments in the hands of political elites.
He said the youths should not be mobilised to perpetrate violence by the same class of people whose policies, according to him, had contributed to the economic hardship confronting the country.
Describing the incident as disturbing, Obi said he had travelled to Yelewata to show solidarity with families of victims of the killings in which more than 270 people were reportedly killed.
“It is ridiculous. Our experience this morning is very, very worrisome,” he said.
Obi said that although his political campaign had commenced, he deliberately chose not to confront the protesters because doing so could have resulted in violence and endangered other road users.
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“I was wondering: are we still in Nigeria? Because, even the campaign I have started, I should be able to move around freely,” he said.
“But we didn’t want to go on and cause confusion and possibly endanger the lives of other people, so I decided to remain as civil as possible.”
The NDC candidate subsequently appealed to security agencies, including the Inspector-General of Police, to intervene and ensure that political actors could move freely across the country.
“I am using this occasion to appeal to the security agencies, the IG of police, and other agencies, to please intervene and be able to call various state governors to order,” Obi said.
The former governor said the incident should not be allowed to become the pattern of political engagement ahead of the 2027 elections.
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“I was a state governor myself. This rascality cannot be allowed. We are a country, and can we confront these people on our own if these people cannot provide us with security?” he asked.
Obi added that the situation was unacceptable and called for greater responsibility from authorities to protect citizens and political candidates.
The development has also generated reactions from political figures, with NDC vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso condemning the blockade and urging the Benue State Government to investigate and prosecute those responsible.
However, the Benue State Government has denied knowledge of Obi’s visit, while the state police command said it was aware of the movement and provided security for the convoy.
The incident is the second reported controversy involving Obi’s movement in Benue, following a similar development last year when the state government reportedly barred him from visiting internally displaced persons without express approval.