NDC Notified Benue Police Ahead of Peter Obi’s Visit, Document Shows

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) formally notified the Benue State Police Command ahead of the visit of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the state, a letter obtained shows.

The letter, dated September 7, 2026, was addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, and signed by the party’s State Chairman, Mr Ohini Ojebe.

According to the letter, Obi was scheduled to visit Benue State on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, arriving in Makurdi at about 8:00 a.m. before proceeding directly from the airport.

The NDC said the purpose of the visit was to meet with family members and representatives of the community affected by the 2025 massacre.

Obi was also expected to visit the memorial site, pay his respects to the victims and lay a wreath in their honour and remembrance.

The party stated that the visit would be brief, with Obi and his entourage expected to leave Yelwata and Benue State immediately after the visit and before noon.

The NDC further requested the Commissioner of Police to provide security cover for Obi and members of his entourage.

Significantly, the document bears an official “RECEIVED” stamp from the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, dated September 7, 2026, indicating that the police command received the notification a day before the scheduled visit.

The letter has emerged amid reports that Obi’s convoy was blocked in Benue State on Tuesday while attempting to proceed with the planned visit.

Despite this evidence, the Benue State Government through the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Kula Tersoo, in a telephone interview on Tuesday, said the government was not aware of Obi’s visit to the state.

“We are not aware of his coming to the state, and if it were to be security agents that stopped him, it would have been easy for us to find out what happened.

“As presidential candidate of a party and former governor, he is a property of the federal government and ought to have been given security. Where are those security agents around him, and if he is going to any state, the security of the host state should know to provide security for him.”

“We were surprised that youth would stop someone; youth can not do anything on behalf of government. Our government doesn’t patronise thugs, and in any case, Obi is not a threat to the governor; we are not aware that Obi is coming to Benue. Am hearing it from you,” he said.