Part of the campaign office of President Bola Tinubu in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, has been pulled down by the Benue State Urban Development Board as part of an ongoing demolition exercise linked to a major road expansion project.
The affected building, which served as the state secretariat of the Ahmed Bola Tinubu Support Group, had its perimeter fence demolished on Thursday. The structure was inaugurated just last week during an event attended by supporters from Benue and neighboring North Central states.
The event’s convener, Dr. Mathias Terwase Byuan, who also serves as the Executive Director of Housing, Finance, and Accounts at the Federal Housing Authority, is the National Coordinator of the support group.
Reacting to the incident, the Director-General of the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu Support Group, Dr. Tarnongo Simon, described the demolition as unexpected, stating that the property had valid government approvals, including a Certificate of Occupancy and an approved building plan from the Benue State Urban Development Board. He condemned the action, describing it as unjustified, and said the group remained committed to supporting the president despite the setback.
However, the Benue State Government denied political involvement in the demolition. In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kula Terso, the government explained that the removal of the structure was part of an ongoing urban renewal and road dualisation project along the Wurukum–Yaikyor–Apir–Ikpayongo axis of Makurdi.
According to the statement, the demolition of structures along designated road setbacks and rights of way is a routine part of the Makurdi–Enugu highway expansion — a federal infrastructure project being carried out in partnership with the state government. The government stated that affected property owners with valid documentation had been duly compensated, while those with illegal structures were notified and instructed to vacate the area before the exercise began.
The statement further warned that repainting or placing political billboards on structures marked for demolition would not prevent their removal. The government described such acts as attempts to politicise a legitimate development process aimed at improving road safety, reducing traffic congestion, and promoting economic growth.
Governor Hyacinth Alia urged residents to disregard claims that the exercise was politically motivated, insisting that it was part of a broader plan to modernise the state and enhance infrastructure. He said the project, which extends from Makurdi to the Benue–Enugu boundary, would bring long-term benefits to residents once completed.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to fairness, rule of law, and progress, adding that development could only thrive in an atmosphere free from misinformation and political manipulation.