The Benue State Government is reportedly taking steps to prevent Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, from visiting camps housing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.
Obi, whose post-election activities have prominently focused on humanitarian outreach to victims of violence across the country, had planned to visit some of the IDP camps in Benue. In recent weeks, the former Anambra State governor has visited similar camps in Plateau, Southern Kaduna, and Nasarawa states, where he met displaced families, donated relief materials, and called for urgent government intervention.
His visit to Plateau State particularly drew national attention after he held talks with Governor Caleb Mutfwang and visited victims of herdsmen attacks.
Sources revealed that Obi’s team had formally reached out to the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) through its Executive Secretary, Sir James Iorpuu, to notify the agency and seek access to designated camps for the visit.
However, the move reportedly triggered political tension within Benue’s corridors of power. Top government officials were said to have advised Governor Hyacinth Alia against granting Obi access to the IDP camps, warning of possible political undertones.
It was gathered that some officials believed the visit could be perceived as a ploy by former Governor Samuel Ortom — a known supporter of Obi during the 2023 presidential election — to revive his political relevance and unsettle the current administration.
Beyond the Ortom connection, wider political considerations were also said to have influenced the decision. A source hinted that granting Obi access at this time could fuel speculation that Governor Alia was contemplating leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC), especially amid ongoing tensions with some national leaders of the party.
“The governor is very conscious of his relationship with the Presidency and the APC leadership. Allowing Obi’s visit could trigger local political drama with Ortom and may be interpreted in Abuja as a subtle alignment with the opposition at a sensitive time,” the source disclosed.
In the 2023 presidential poll, Obi delivered an unexpected performance in Benue, securing over 308,000 votes — a result that shocked many given the state’s historical dominance by the APC and PDP. His victory was largely credited to Ortom’s backing and a wave of youth-driven, faith-based, and middle-class support.
Against this backdrop, Governor Alia’s inner circle reportedly convinced him to stop Obi’s visit to avoid reigniting political rivalries or providing a platform for the Labour Party and Ortom to regain influence in the state.
Following this, the governor allegedly instructed his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, to issue a public statement warning against “unapproved high-profile visits” to the state.
“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 it did not directly mention Peter Obi, insiders confirmed it was a veiled message aimed at discouraging the planned outreach.
A government source, who spoke anonymously, said, “The governor is uncomfortable with Obi’s visit, especially given the political undertones it carries. The camps are a sensitive issue, and we cannot allow anyone to politicise the suffering of our displaced people.”
As of the time of filing this report, neither Obi’s camp nor the Labour Party had issued an official response to the development. However, a source close to the former governor insisted that the visit was purely humanitarian and in line with Obi’s ongoing outreach to communities affected by violence and displacement.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
