On Monday, April 14, news broke that the Benue State Government is reportedly trying to block a planned visit by former presidential candidate Peter Obi to camps housing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state — a move that’s stirred political tension and fueled new defection rumors around Governor Hyacinth Alia.
Peter Obi, who ran under the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, has been traveling across Nigeria visiting IDP camps and offering support to victims of violence. In the past few weeks, he’s been to Plateau, Southern Kaduna, and Nasarawa, where he donated relief materials, met with displaced families, and called on the government to take more action.
His upcoming visit to Benue seemed to follow the same humanitarian mission — until things got complicated.
Obi’s team had reached out to the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) to request official access to some of the camps, but insiders say the visit hit a wall due to political concerns at the top.
According to government sources, some officials warned Governor Alia that allowing Obi’s visit could be seen as a political statement, especially since former Governor Samuel Ortom, a strong Obi supporter, is still influential in the state.
“It is believed that allowing Obi access at this time could fuel ongoing speculations that Governor Alia is considering leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC),” a source told Daily Post.
Apparently, the Governor is walking a tightrope — trying to manage tensions within his party, maintain a good relationship with the Presidency, and avoid the perception that he’s aligning with the opposition. Having Peter Obi — a high-profile opposition figure — visit Benue right now could send the wrong message to President Bola Tinubu’s camp.
Back in the February 25, 2023 presidential election, Obi shocked many by winning over 308,000 votes in Benue, a state traditionally dominated by the APC and PDP. His victory was powered by widespread support from young voters, faith groups, and middle-class citizens, with Ortom’s endorsement playing a key role.
Fearing a repeat of that momentum, Governor Alia’s inner circle reportedly convinced him to shut down the visit. As part of this strategy, his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, issued a statement warning against “unapproved high-profile visits” to Benue.
“For anyone considering a visit to Benue State without the Governor’s knowledge, it is imperative to reconsider such plans, as the safety and security of individuals in this regard cannot be guaranteed,” the statement read.
Though Obi wasn’t named, insiders confirmed the message was directed at him.
“The governor is not comfortable with Obi’s visit, especially with the political undertones it carries. The camps are a sensitive issue and we cannot allow anyone to politicise the suffering of our displaced people,” a government source said.
As of now, Obi’s team has not made an official statement, but someone close to him said the visit was strictly humanitarian and part of his broader effort to support communities in need.
Whether the visit goes ahead remains to be seen, but one thing is clear — in Benue, even helping displaced people can become a political battlefield.
