Isaac Fayose, younger brother of former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, has criticised Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, over his response to the reported attack on his convoy in Benue State.
Fayose made his position known in a video shared on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, where he expressed disappointment with the way Obi handled the incident.
The former governor’s brother said Obi’s calm and gentlemanly approach to politics could work against his ambition to become Nigeria’s president in the 2027 general elections.
His comments followed the reported obstruction of Obi’s convoy in Benue while the NDC presidential candidate was on his way to Yelwata to visit families affected by the deadly attack on the community in June 2025.
Obi had planned to meet victims and relatives as part of what was described as a humanitarian visit. However, the visit was disrupted after individuals allegedly blocked the road used by his convoy.
Fayose criticised Obi for leaving Benue and continuing to Plateau State without completing the planned visit.
He argued that Obi should have remained in Benue and found a way to accomplish the purpose of his trip instead of leaving the state after the confrontation.
According to Fayose, Obi has a right as a Nigerian to move freely within the country, and he questioned how the opposition candidate intends to defeat President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, if he continues to approach such situations in a calm manner.
Fayose also suggested that the 2027 presidential contest would require a tougher political strategy, arguing that Obi’s current approach could leave him vulnerable to similar incidents in other states.
He expressed concern that other state governments or political groups could attempt to take advantage of Obi’s peaceful nature during the election campaign.
Fayose said the incident should serve as a warning to Obi as he prepares for the 2027 election, adding that political opponents may continue to test his resolve if they believe he will avoid confrontation.
His comments come as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections continue to increase, with opposition candidates and parties stepping up their campaigns and political engagements across the country.
The Benue incident has already generated reactions from political groups and individuals, with the NDC demanding an investigation into the reported blockade of Obi’s convoy.
The Benue State Government has maintained that it was not aware of Obi’s visit, while the state police command said it knew about his planned movement and provided security for the trip.
The police, however, said the reason the convoy was stopped remained unclear.
Fayose’s comments have now added another dimension to the controversy, focusing not only on the circumstances surrounding the incident but also on how Obi should respond to political challenges as the 2027 election approaches.