Keyamo Condemns Blockade of Peter Obi's Benue Convoy

Festus Keyamo, Nigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has issued a strong rebuke following the obstruction of Peter Obi's convoy in Benue State on Tuesday. Youths blocked the movement of the National Democratic Congress presidential candidate along the Gboko-Makurdi Expressway as he travelled to Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area.

Keyamo stated that regardless of the circumstances or motivations behind the incident, such actions run counter to democratic principles and the freedoms that should be afforded to political candidates during campaigns. Obi was in Benue as part of his preparation for the 2027 presidential election.

He had planned to visit Yelwata specifically to commiserate with residents affected by an earlier deadly attack in the area. The blockade prevented him from reaching his intended destination, and he subsequently appealed for security intervention to address the disruption.

In his statement, Keyamo emphasized that politicians and their supporters must resolve electoral disputes through the ballot box rather than through obstruction or violence. He also called on media outlets to maintain objectivity when reporting on political confrontations, arguing against what he characterized as partisan narratives in coverage of such incidents.

Multiple sources indicate that Keyamo framed his position as a principled defense of democratic norms applicable to all political actors, not specific to any one candidate or party. The incident highlights the security challenges facing political movements during campaign periods in Nigeria.

Obi's blockade follows a pattern of disruptions to campaign activities across various states, though the sources do not detail whether similar incidents have occurred elsewhere recently or whether there are coordinated efforts behind such blockades.