The Benue State Government has said it was not informed about a reported visit to the state by Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
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The government’s position followed reports that Obi’s convoy was allegedly stopped by youths while attempting to reach Yelewata in Guma Local Government Area.
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Yelewata was recently affected by a deadly attack in which more than 200 people were reportedly killed.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Kula Tersoo, said neither the governor nor the state government received prior information about Obi’s visit.
He explained that a presidential candidate visiting the state would normally be expected to have the necessary security arrangements put in place.
Tersoo said relevant security agencies, including the police, Department of State Services and civil defence authorities, should be informed ahead of such a visit.
He questioned how Obi’s movement could allegedly be disrupted by youths if adequate security personnel had been deployed for the visit.
The governor’s spokesman also rejected claims that Governor Alia could have organised youths to prevent Obi from entering the state.
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He said the governor does not encourage the use of thugs and would rely on lawful security agencies to handle any security concern involving a political figure.
Tersoo added that no security agency informed Governor Alia about Obi’s reported arrival or planned visit.
He therefore questioned whether Obi had actually entered the state as reported, given the absence of any official notification to the governor.
The spokesman also referred to an earlier incident in which Obi reportedly claimed that his movement in Benue was obstructed and that gunshots were fired when he eventually arrived.
He said the state government had requested security reports to determine what happened during that previous incident.
According to him, similar concerns arose over the latest reported incident because the movement of a presidential candidate should ordinarily be coordinated with relevant security authorities.
He maintained that adequate security would have made it difficult for youths to block Obi’s convoy if the visit had been properly communicated and security arrangements put in place.
The Benue government’s denial came amid reports of a confrontation involving Obi’s convoy as he attempted to visit the state.
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