The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned the reported obstruction of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, from accessing the Yelwata community in Benue State. The party stated that the move was intended to prevent the candidate from visiting victims of recent killings in the area.
According to the NDC, the attempt to visit the bereaved families and assess the impact of the recent violence in the community was thwarted. The party maintains that the visit was a humanitarian effort to offer condolences and show solidarity with those affected by the ongoing insecurity in the state.
The party expressed strong disapproval regarding the reported obstruction of Peter Obi’s visit to Yelwata, Benue, describing the incident as a restriction on the candidate’s ability to engage with citizens in crisis-hit areas.
Security challenges in Benue State
The Yelwata community has been a frequent site of communal violence and attacks, which have resulted in several fatalities in recent months. These incidents have driven local calls for more robust security interventions from both the Benue State government and federal security agencies to protect vulnerable rural populations.
The NDC has called on security agencies to investigate the specific circumstances that led to the prevention of the visit. The party argued that political figures and citizens must be allowed to move freely to areas affected by violence without facing undue restrictions.
While the party has raised concerns over the restriction of movement, no official statement has been issued by the Benue State security apparatus or local government authorities explaining the reasons for the obstruction. The NDC has indicated it will continue to monitor the situation and may seek legal or administrative remedies to address the restriction of its candidate’s movements.
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