The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Benue State, Terhemba Shija, has accused the state government of making plans to disrupt the planned visit of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the state.
Shija alleged that the government was uncomfortable with Obi’s visit and was taking steps to prevent him from visiting Yelewata community ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, the Benue State Government has rejected the allegation, describing it as false, baseless and an attempt to create unnecessary political tension.
The NDC governorship candidate made the allegation while speaking with journalists in Makurdi on Tuesday. He disclosed that Obi was expected to visit the state on Wednesday for a town hall meeting in Makurdi and a humanitarian visit to Yelewata.
According to Shija, the visit to Yelewata would provide an opportunity for the former Anambra State governor to pay tribute to residents who lost their lives during the June 2025 attack and sympathise with their families.
He claimed that the state government had been formally informed about the planned visit but had allegedly issued threats aimed at stopping Obi from entering the community.
Shija also recalled an earlier attempt to prevent the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate from visiting Yelewata, suggesting that similar actions were being considered ahead of the latest visit.
He explained that Obi would lay a wreath at a cenotaph built in memory of the victims along Lafia Road and meet with relatives of those killed in the attack.
The NDC candidate further clarified that the visit would not involve any government facility or internally displaced persons’ camp, as the main purpose was to honour the dead and offer support to their grieving families.
Shija maintained that the party would not allow any form of intimidation to prevent the visit, insisting that all activities would be conducted peacefully.
He also suggested that the government might be worried about the political impact of Obi’s visit as political activities gradually build up ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to the allegation in a statement on Wednesday, the Benue State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Solomon Iorpev, dismissed the claims and insisted that the government had no intention of interfering with Obi’s movement.
Iorpev accused the NDC candidate of making unfounded claims to create the impression that the state government was responsible for any possible disruption of the visit.
The commissioner argued that the allegation appeared to be an attempt to generate public sympathy and shift blame to the government if any incident occurred during Obi’s visit.
He maintained that Benue remained open to visitors and that the state government had no reason to prevent the presidential candidate from coming into the state.
Iorpev added that Governor Hyacinth Alia was more concerned with restoring security, rebuilding affected communities and delivering development projects than engaging in political disagreements.
The commissioner also warned political actors against using the Yelewata tragedy as a campaign tool, saying the suffering of victims and their families should not be turned into an opportunity for political publicity.
He stressed that the state government continued to share in the pain of families affected by the attack and urged political parties to respect the memory of those who lost their lives.
Iorpev further assured that the government would take necessary steps to protect Obi and other visitors during their stay in the state.
He warned that security agencies would take action against anyone found attempting to cause violence or disturb public peace, regardless of their political party or affiliation.