Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi has accused an aide to Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia of leading what he described as “government-sponsored thugs” who blocked his motorcade during a visit to the state.

Obi, in a telephone conversation with ARISE News on Tuesday, said the incident occurred while he was travelling to commiserate with families and communities affected by recent terrorist attacks in Benue.

The former Anambra State governor said he had intended to visit families of more than 200 victims of recent attacks, but his convoy was prevented from proceeding by a mob which blocked the road.

Obi alleged that the group was led by a Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor and described those involved as “government-sponsored thugs.”

Videos obtained by ARISE News show a stick-wielding mob blocking Obi’s convoy on Gboko Road while he was attempting to enter the state.

Obi insisted that his visit to Benue was not for political campaigning but to commiserate with people affected by insecurity.

“I am in Benue not for a campaign. I only wanted to go to a place where people lost their lives and console them, show solidarity with them. But you can see the level at which our politics has degenerated,” he said.

The presidential candidate maintained that those responsible for the blockade were linked to the state government, alleging that access to citizens and communities was being deliberately obstructed.

He also criticised the broader state of affairs in the country, arguing that Nigerians could not continue to grapple with hunger and insecurity while political actors deliberately restricted access to their leaders.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alia, Tersoo Kula, said that the government was unaware of Obi’s visit and rejected suggestions that it had deployed or sponsored thugs to obstruct him.

“We are not aware whether he is in the state or not. If the Benue state government is to stop anybody, including Peter Obi, why would the Benue state government go and use thugs? Benue government doesn’t do that. I think it is just one of the lies they are trying to bring upon my principal,” Kula said.

Obi said Nigerians should be able to engage in politics peacefully despite their political differences, arguing that the country needed unity rather than violence and intimidation.

“We have no other country except this place, and we will build it on unity and love with a sense of doing the right thing,” he said. (Arise News, excludinh headline)