* it is false alarm, Benue Information Commissioner refutes
From Joseph Uchenna, in Makurdi
The Presidential candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC Peter Obi is to visit Benue State on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
Obi’s visit to the state two (2) months ago, was allegedly disrupted by hoodlums who blocked his convoy on Gboko road in Makurdi.
He was scheduled to visit Yelewata to condole with the people over the massacre in 2025 as well as donate relief materials to them.
Announcing the visit of the party’s Presidential candidate at a press conference on Tuesday, NDC Governorship candidate Prof Terhemba Shija said it is partly a humanitarian visit, disclosing that Obi plans to visit the Yelewata town which had witnessed a massacre of about 271 innocent Nigerians about a year ago and for whom he had been prevented to visit in a previous attempt.
He also said the visit is political as Obi intends to hold a town-hall meeting with a cross-section of people in Benue State to propagate his message of redemption to the people of Benue State.
Prof Shija assured that arrangements have been made to receive the party’s Presidential Candidate who plans to lay a wreath at the cenotaph of the 271 slain victims of the Yelewata along Lafia road, where he is also expected to condole with relations of the deceased.
Shija stressed that Obi won’t visit any government facility anywhere in the State, nor does he intend to visit any Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, stating that his town-hall meeting with the Benue people will be held at the Multi-purpose hall of the Mission House, Makurdi, behind the Benue Links head office, Wurukum.
He appealed to all Benue citizens, Groups and Organizations, Traditional Rulers, Civil Society Groups, Students, Women, Youths, Labour Unions and the general public to come, listen and interact with the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He added that it would be heart-warming and a great pleasure for the good people of Benue to take their turn tomorrow to welcome and celebrate the man who would soon be President.
The Governorship candidate extolled Peter Obi as the ‘new sensation’ in town, the hero of our time as the mood of the nation now dictates, a man of honour and integrity, a man of transparency and principle and a man of ingenuity and creativity.
He added, “The man who dares to do his politics differently. The man of courage who has demonstrably chosen to fight for the over 200 million Nigerians debiliated by poverty, corruption, unemployment, banditry, kidnapping, hunger, disease, ignorance and unhygienic environment.
“History has shown that at every material time someone emerges to play the role of the anointed one. Every generation might have their thinkers and performers, but none stands out like the anointed one. Everybody knows it. People talk about it. People criticize him, but he simply stands out amongst the lot. This is Mr. Peter Obi’s era.
“Nigerians in their millions are craving to identify with him. We in Benue State consider ourselves privileged to join in the bandwagon. He is a fine, honourable and detribalized Nigeria. He is a man of empathy, compassion and vision”.
Shija raises the alarm of plot to disrupt Obi’s visit again
Shija alleged that the party had received reliable information that the APC controlled government has issued threats to stop the visit of Mr. Peter Obi specifically at the Yelewata community, insisting that it is not a mere rumour.
He claimed the same government sent thugs of the infamous ‘No Alia, No Benue’ plan to waylay, throw stones and stop President Peter Obi’s planned visit to Yelewata town two months ago, describing that the incident as a monumental national disgrace and a display of immaturity.
He said no one can stop a moving train, averring too that no individual has the capacity to halt the will of God in the forthcoming general election, which is providentially tilting towards the emergence of Mr. Peter Obi and Alhaji Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as President and Vice-President.
Shija cautioned the state government to shelve its diabolical plan to disrupt the visit of Mr. Peter Obi in Benue State and called on all law enforcement agents to ensure the safety of Mr. Peter Obi and his supporters as they carry out their legitimate activities in Makurdi and Yelewata tomorrow.
“The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC will not yield to any blackmail or intimidation, neither are we going to succumb to the temptation to take laws into our hands. The Police and the DSS are already aware of the militant groups floated by this Government to hurt down and inflict violence on supporters of individuals and political parties. We call on them to do their job. But be least assured that nobody will shrink from our duty as a political party set to win election in the next 3 months”, he said
No plans to disrupt Obi’s visit
The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation Solomon Iorpev stated categorically that there is no plot to disrupt Obi’s visit tommorrow.
Iorpev in a telephone chat with our correspondent accused the NDC of raising false alarm, explaining that the last incident two (2) months was masterminded by the NDC who turned around to blame the government.
Said he, “Government has no plans to disrupt Obi’s visit. He is always welcome to visit the state for whatever reason. It is the NDC that engages in such act and then turn around to blame the government. What we insist is that protocol should be followed. If they have followed protocol by writing to the governor this time, then it is fine. The governor is a peaceful loving person and would not disrupt visit of such a highly respected personality into the state. Peter Obi is beyond an ordinary individual. He is a statesman”.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer DSP Aondongu Orchia confirmed Obi’s visit, assuring him of adequate security.
