The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Benue State, Professor Terhemba Shiga, have condemned the alleged attack on NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, during his visit to the state on Tuesday.

Trouble reportedly erupted when suspected thugs blocked a major access road in an attempt to prevent Obi from entering Makurdi, the Benue State capital, where he was scheduled to carry out political activities and visit victims of recent violence.

Reacting to the incident, Sowore said videos of the confrontation suggested that Obi’s movement had been deliberately obstructed, describing the development as an unacceptable attack on democratic rights.

Sowore, in a statement posted on his social media platforms on Tuesday, said, “I have watched videos showing what appears to be a state-sponsored blockade and attack on NDC presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi as he attempted to enter the state capital to carry out legitimate campaign activities.”

He condemned what he described as “political brigandage” allegedly perpetrated by agents of the state government and the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

According to him, political candidates must be allowed to campaign freely across the country without intimidation, violence or interference by state-sponsored actors.

“No candidate should be prevented through violence, intimidation or state-sponsored thuggery from campaigning freely anywhere in Nigeria,” Sowore said.

He warned that those responsible for the incident were “toying with fire” and undermining the democratic rights of Nigerians.

“They must desist immediately before it is too late,” he added.

Also reacting, Shiga described the suspected attackers as “victims of substance abuse,” while insisting that the incident would not prevent the NDC from carrying out its activities in the state.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the incident, Shiga said Obi’s previous electoral performance in Benue remained a source of concern to his political opponents.

“We don’t want to create any scene here. They are victims of substance abuse,” he said.

The NDC governorship candidate further claimed that Obi won Benue State in the previous presidential election despite what he described as electoral manipulation.

“In the previous election, even without the so-called structures and whatever, Peter Obi won Benue State in spite of the rigging. They rigged and said they defeated Peter Obi by 2,000 votes. So they are afraid,” Shiga alleged.

He said Obi’s visit was primarily aimed at sympathising with residents affected by killings in the state and questioned why he would be prevented from entering Makurdi.

“He has only come here to condole with people whose people have been killed, and now they don’t want him to step foot here. Now, this is in spite of the fact that INEC has lifted the ban on politics,” Shiga said.