Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has dismissed claims that he ordered thugs to block the presidential candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress for 2027, Peter Obi, from entering Yelewata, a community in the state.

Mr Alia, in a statement by his spokesperson Tersoo Kula on Tuesday, said, “Peter Obi must stop lies. It is therefore curious that an individual presenting himself as a presidential candidate could arrive in a state without the relevant security authorities being formally informed of his movement.

“The Benue State Government has rejected, in the strongest terms, claims by the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr @PeterObi that he was blocked by thugs working for the state government from accessing Yelewata to console with families of 2025 attacks,” the statement said.

It added, “We wish to emphatically deny that the government of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has an idea of what Mr. Obi is talking about.”

According to the statement, Mr Obi’s  allegations are unfounded and desperate attempt to drag Governor @HyacinthAlia and the Benue people into what may be an internal political matter within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). 

It added, “We therefore urge the public to disregard the allegations linking the State Government to any incident that happened around the NDC Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.”

Thugs on Tuesday blocked the convoy of Mr Obi from entering the Benue community.

Speaking with reporters, the NDC presidential candidate said, “Today, I am in Benue not for a campaign. I only want to go to a place where people lost their lives and condole with them. But you can see what our politics has degenerated into.

He added, “People have been killed. I came to condole with them. But youths, led by SA to the governor, blocked the road and made sure I didn’t go in. I’ve been standing here for a while now, thinking they will come to their senses. We cannot have a country like this. This rascality is unacceptable. These youths are being used to do this. Unfortunately, someone sits in office allowing this to happen. These people are hungry. Need to be pulled out of poverty. But unfortunately, see what is happening.”

In 2025, Mr Obi expressed displeasure at how the Benue State government allegedly politicised his planned visit to the troubled state. Mr Alia declared that Mr Obi should not visit Benue State without his permission.

Mr Alia also accused Mr Obi of violating standard protocols by failing to inform the governor ahead of his visit.