By Paul Aondoakaa 

Former Benue Governor Samuel Ortom has accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of involvement in the obstruction of Peter Obi’s planned visit to Yelwata, while the state government has denied responsibility.

Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has condemned the obstruction of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi during his planned visit to Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area, accusing Governor Hyacinth Alia of being responsible for the incident.

Ortom made the allegation on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, while reacting to the events surrounding Obi’s attempted visit to the community.

Obi had travelled to Benue intending to visit Yelwata and sympathise with residents and families affected by the June 2025 attack in the community. His convoy was stopped by youths along the Makurdi-Gboko road, forcing him to abandon the planned visit.

Ortom described the incident as wrong and said Obi should have been allowed to visit the affected community.

“I condemn what happened yesterday. It is wrong not to allow Peter Obi to visit Benue and sympathise with those people whose people were killed,” Ortom said.

The former governor went further, alleging that Governor Alia was aware of and involved in the action.

Ortom challenged the governor to deny the allegation, saying the incident was a deliberate attempt to prevent Obi from reaching Yelwata.

However, the allegation that Governor Alia personally ordered or organised the blockade has not been independently established.

The Benue State Government has denied involvement in the incident. Government officials have maintained that they were not aware of Obi’s planned visit and rejected allegations that state authorities or their supporters organised the blockade.

There is also a dispute over whether the security authorities were notified.

Benue State Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, said the police command received information about Obi’s visit on Monday night and deployed personnel to provide security for the former Anambra governor.

The police commissioner said officers were present when youths blocked the road and that investigations were underway to establish what led to the confrontation.

The police subsequently announced the arrest of 46 suspects in connection with the incident, indicating that the matter had moved beyond political accusations into a formal security investigation.

The controversy has also attracted reactions from other political figures.

Former Bayelsa Governor and NDC national leader Seriake Dickson called for a thorough investigation and prosecution of anyone found responsible. He said Nigerians should know whether government officials were involved in the incident.

Dickson also argued that no Nigerian should require permission to travel to another state, particularly during a period of political activity.

The NDC leader said the party planned to petition the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation over the incident.

The episode has consequently raised questions extending beyond the disagreement between Obi and the Benue Government.

What we know

Obi’s planned visit to Yelwata was disrupted after youths blocked his convoy on the Makurdi-Gboko road. The police have confirmed that they were aware of the visit, deployed personnel and subsequently arrested 46 suspects.

Why it matters

With political activity building ahead of the 2027 elections, incidents involving political candidates, security agencies and organised groups can have wider implications for democratic participation and public confidence.

For Benue, the incident also comes against the background of continuing sensitivity around violence, displacement and political tensions in communities such as Yelewata.

What happens next?

The outcome of the police investigation will be important in determining responsibility for the blockade and whether further arrests or prosecutions will follow.

For now, the competing claims remain unresolved.

Benue Info-pedia will continue to track the investigation and report verified developments as they emerge.