The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Benue State, Terhemba Shija, accuses the Benue government of plotting to disrupt Peter Obi’s planned visit to the state ahead of the 2027 elections. Multiple outlets report that Shija alleges the government issued threats despite notice, referencing an earlier attempt to block Obi from visiting Yelewata. Shija also describes the visit as both humanitarian and political.
According to reports, Obi’s itinerary includes a town hall in Makurdi and a humanitarian visit to Yelewata, where he is expected to pay tribute to victims of the June 2025 massacre and commiserate with their families. One account says Obi would lay a wreath at a cenotaph and meet relatives, without visiting government facilities or an internally displaced persons’ camp.
Benue State officials deny the allegations. The state government says it has no plans to disrupt the visit and describes the claims as false and baseless. Across outlets, the core dispute is the same—claims of planned interference versus the government’s denial—while details and emphasis vary by publication.
