Peter Obi convoy blocked on Nigeria campaign trip

Nigerian opposition leader Peter Obi's convoy was blocked on September 8 during a campaign-period visit to Yelwata, a village in Benue state where more than 150 people were killed last year.

Police in Benue confirmed to local media that Obi's convoy was “blocked by some youths” and said they had opened an investigation. Obi said on X that his “convoy was prevented from proceeding to the community by thugs chanting, 'Peter Obi, go back'”.

Obi said the visit was meant to support and listen to families who had lost loved ones. His office claimed the group that obstructed him was “armed with dangerous weapons”.

“This is a campaign period. As presidential candidate I'm free to move around,” Obi said.

Obi later told AFP in Abuja that the obstruction did not bode well for “free, fair and credible” elections. Asked whether he thought the blockade was politically orchestrated rather than part of wider violence in the state, he said: “What else would it have been?”

Nigeria is due to hold elections on January 16. Obi, of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, is one of the leading candidates against incumbent President Bola Tinubu. Nigerian elections are often affected by violence, including intimidation by political thugs.

Yelwata is in Nigeria's Middle Belt, where attacks are often motivated by religious or ethnic differences.