NDC Informed Police Before Peter Obi's Visit to Benue

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) told the Commissioner of Police in Benue State about their presidential candidate Peter Obi's planned visit. A document has confirmed this.

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that political thugs interrupted Mr Obi’s visit to Benue on Tuesday. They blocked his convoy from entering the state in north-central Nigeria.

Some Nigerians are blaming the Benue State Government for supporting the attack and stopping Mr Obi from visiting. This newspaper also reported that the Benue State Government claimed they did not protect Mr Obi during the disruption because they did not know he was coming.

Kula Tersoo, who speaks for Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, said neither the governor nor the state government was informed about Mr Obi's visit. He added that no security measures were taken for his supposed arrival.

Mr Tersoo pointed out that a presidential candidate's visit should be communicated to the right security agencies for proper protection.

But a letter showing that the police in Benue State were informed before Mr Obi’s visit has come out on social media. Mr Obi’s spokesperson, Valentine Obienyem, shared the letter on his Facebook page on Tuesday.

The letter, dated 7 September 2026, was signed by the NDC chairman in Benue State, Ohini Ojegbe. The police acknowledged receiving the letter on the same day, signed by an officer named Daniel Tarwa.

Mr Tarwa, a superintendent of police, told PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday that the police did receive the letter from the NDC and provided security for Mr Obi.

“I respectfully write to notify your office that the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, His Excellency Peter Obi, will be coming to Benue State on Tuesday, 8th September 2026.

“He is scheduled to arrive in Makurdi at about 8 a.m. and will immediately proceed from the Airport to Yelwata, to meet with family members and representatives of the community affected by the 2025 massacre,” Mr Ojegbe stated in the letter.

The NDC chairman also told the police chief that Mr Obi would visit the memorial site to pay his respects to the victims and lay a wreath in their memory.

“The visit will be very brief as the Presidential Candidate and his entourage will leave Yelwata and Benue State immediately after the visit, before noon.

“We request you to kindly provide security cover for him and his entourage,” he pleaded.

This new information goes against the Benue State Government’s earlier claim that they and the security agencies were not informed ahead of Mr Obi’s visit.