The Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in Benue State, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, and the Obidient Movement have both condemned an attack on the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, during his engagements in Makurdi, describing it as a threat to democracy and constitutional rights.

Aondoakaa’s condemnation came in a statement issued on Tuesday by his media assistant, James Ian, in which he called the incident a disgraceful assault on democracy and a direct affront to the constitutional rights of Nigerians.

According to him, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of movement, association, and political participation.

“As such, no individual, group, or government has the authority to deny any Nigerian access to any part of the country on account of political affiliation.”

The former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation noted that President Bola Tinubu has repeatedly emphasised that all presidential and other candidates, as well as political leaders, must be free to travel across the country to canvass for support and engage with citizens ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The PDP gubernatorial candidate said, “any attempt to obstruct, intimidate, or attack a political leader exercising that right runs contrary to the spirit of democratic competition and undermines the President’s call for a peaceful and inclusive political process.

Chief Aondoakaa said the incident also constituted a violation of the recently signed peace accord by political actors, under which parties and candidates committed themselves to conduct issue-based campaigns, refrain from violence, and allow opponents to move freely and interact with voters without harassment, intimidation, or attacks.

He said democracy thrives on the free exchange of ideas, not on violence and political intolerance.

While expressing concern about the incident, the governorship candidate said the ugly incident portrays Benue State in a very negative light before the nation and the international community.

He, however, clarified that the actions of a few politically motivated individuals should not be seen to have represented the character, values, and culture of the people of the state.

“Benue people are renowned for their hospitality, civility, and respect for visitors. Our state has always welcomed people from different political, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. The attack on Mr. Peter Obi is therefore inconsistent with the true identity of our people and should be condemned by all lovers of democracy irrespective of political affiliation,” he said.

Aondoakaa lamented that at a time when Benue people are mourning the loss of hundreds of innocent citizens to incessant attacks and grappling with widespread insecurity, the state government appeared unable to prevent violence against its own people but quick to unleash political actors against visitors and opponents.

He insisted that no responsible government should tolerate, encourage, or be associated with acts of thuggery, intimidation, and harassment against political opponents or visitors to the state.

He called on security agencies to immediately conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident and ensure that all those responsible are brought to justice regardless of their status or political connections.

While urging security agencies to guarantee the safety of all political actors and Nigerians exercising their constitutional rights, Aondoakaa called on Benue people to remain peaceful, law-abiding, and committed to democratic principles, stressing that violence, intimidation, and political thuggery have no place in the state’s political future.

Separately, the Obidient Movement condemned the attempt to restrict the movement of Obi during his engagements in Benue State.

In a statement issued by its Media and Communications Directorate on Tuesday, the group said the organised thugs barricaded Gboko Road near the Makurdi airport, causing significant traffic disruption and attempting to frustrate Obi’s movement.

The group alleged that the latest incident involved the blockage of major highways around the Air Force Base and Makurdi airport, accusing the organisers of deliberately creating a gridlock to disrupt Obi’s activities.

The group argued that Obi, as a Nigerian citizen and former governor, had a constitutional right to travel, assemble and interact with citizens anywhere in the country without seeking political permission.

The movement urged the authorities to end what it described as threats, highway blockades and other tactics designed to frustrate Obi’s political activities. (Nigerian Tribune)