Vice presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has criticised the reported blockade of the convoy of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, during his trip to Benue State.
Kwankwaso, in a statement shared on his official X account on Tuesday, described the incident as a threat to democratic values and urged the Benue State Government to investigate the development and prosecute those found responsible.
The former Kano State governor said the alleged mobilisation of people to stop Obi from entering Makurdi represented a “dark day for our democracy.”
Kwankwaso said, “Authorities must remember that the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of movement. This right applies even more strongly to Mr Obi, a former governor and leading opposition figure.”
He called on the Benue authorities to guarantee the safety of Obi and ensure that he and members of his delegation could move freely within the state.
“I further urge the President to caution state governors, particularly those in his party, against any actions that could undermine the sanctity of our democracy,” he said.
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Kwankwaso also appealed to the international community, including diplomatic missions and election monitoring organisations, to pay attention to the incident and encourage Nigerian authorities to respect the rule of law, protect opposition figures and preserve democratic freedoms.
Obi had earlier been reported to have been stopped from proceeding into Benue after protesters blocked Gboko Road in Makurdi.
The demonstrators, who chanted “We don’t want Peter Obi,” reportedly barricaded the road close to the Nigerian Air Force Base and Makurdi Airport, leaving Obi’s convoy stranded and disrupting traffic for several hours.
In a video shared on Tuesday by News Central Television on X, Obi said he travelled to Benue to sympathise with families affected by killings in the state but was prevented from continuing his journey on the directive of a government aide.
He described the action as unacceptable and alleged that those behind the protest were using hungry and insecure youths for political purposes.
Obi also said the protesters had been mobilised without considering the possible consequences of their actions.