Obi Convoy Blockade: PDP Deputy Gov Candidate Warns of Security Threat, Demands Probe
By Pan Afric Reporters
The Deputy Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, Dr. Ogbenjuwa Oyije Ocheakiti, has condemned the reported blockade of the convoy of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, in Makurdi, describing the incident as an assault on democracy and a potential threat to national security.
The Aondoakaa/Ogbenjuwa Campaign Organisation made its position known in a statement signed by Comrade Otse Ogebe on behalf of the organisation and dated Tuesday, September 8, 2026, following the reported incident along the Gboko/Boko Road in Makurdi.
The statement alleged that Obi and his entourage were forcibly prevented from proceeding to Yelewata, where they were scheduled to visit Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by ongoing security challenges and provide humanitarian assistance.
Ocheakiti described the reported blockade as “forceful, lawless, and unprovoked,” arguing that obstructing a humanitarian mission aimed at offering assistance and comfort to vulnerable citizens was insensitive and unacceptable.
According to him, Nigeria is a constitutional democracy in which citizens are guaranteed freedom of movement, while political actors should be allowed to travel across states and engage with communities without intimidation or obstruction.
“Obstructing a purely compassionate mission to alleviate the suffering of vulnerable citizens is both deeply insensitive and entirely unacceptable,” the statement said.
Speaking from his perspective as a security expert, Ocheakiti warned that failure by the authorities to respond decisively to the incident could create a dangerous precedent, particularly in an environment where ethnic and political tensions remain sensitive.
He said allowing what he described as aggressive political actions to go unpunished could trigger retaliatory actions in other parts of the country and further undermine national stability.
“A failure to penalize those behind this blockade sets a dangerous precedent that could trigger volatile reprisal actions across different regions, further fracturing our national security,” he warned.
The PDP deputy governorship candidate consequently called on the Federal Government, the Inspector-General of Police and other relevant law enforcement agencies to launch an immediate investigation into the incident.
He urged the authorities to identify those responsible and ensure that political differences were not used to undermine constitutional freedoms or interfere with humanitarian activities.
“We call on the federal government, the Inspector General of Police, and relevant law enforcement agencies to launch an immediate investigation into this incident, uncover the actors involved, and ensure that politics is never weaponized against constitutional liberties and humanitarian empathy,” Ocheakiti said.
The campaign organisation further urged political actors and their supporters to respect democratic principles, constitutional rights and the rule of law, stressing the need to prevent political disagreements from escalating into actions capable of threatening peace and security in Benue State and the country at large.
