The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has condemned the reported blockade that prevented Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi from reaching Yelwata in Benue State, while urging the media to abandon partisan framing of political incidents.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Keyamo said the episode must be rejected by all people of goodwill, regardless of who was behind it. Obi had planned to visit families affected by the deadly June 2025 attack in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area—one of the worst recent incidents in the state, with reports of more than 100 deaths. A group of youths stopped his convoy from proceeding.
Keyamo stressed that freedom of movement and the right to campaign without intimidation or violence are essential to democracy. He said it did not matter whether the protest stemmed from internal NDC disagreements (as suggested by the Benue State Government), alleged sponsorship by the APC or another party, or claims that Obi’s visit was politically timed to stir emotions over the year-old killings.
“Whether the protest was as a result of internal squabbles within the NDC … or sponsored by the APC or any other rival party, this should not be part of our democracy,” Keyamo stated. He added that even if the visit had political motives, blocking access remained unacceptable: “Everyone should be allowed to move about freely and play their politics without such crude interference.”
The minister also criticised what he described as inconsistent media coverage of similar confrontations. He argued that when angry crowds confront APC candidates, some outlets often portray it as public “rejection,” while comparable incidents involving opposition figures are labelled attacks by “sponsored thugs” or “hoodlums.”
“What is good for the goose is also good for the gander. The Press must extricate itself from such partisanship and be fair to all,” he said.
Keyamo called on citizens to express dissatisfaction with candidates through the ballot rather than violence during campaigns.
Police in Benue confirmed they were aware of Obi’s movements and provided security, while the matter of the blockade remains under investigation. The NDC has described the incident as unacceptable and alleged the involvement of hired thugs.
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