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Benue Govt moves to block Peter Obi’s visit amid Alia’s defection rumours

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The Benue State Government is reportedly making moves to block a planned visit by Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, to camps housing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.

Obi, whose post-election activities have prominently included humanitarian outreach to victims of violence across the country, was said to have planned a visit to some of the IDP camps in Benue.

The former Anambra State governor, in recent weeks, visited IDP camps in Plateau, Southern Kaduna and Nasarawa states, meeting with displaced families, donating relief materials and advocating for urgent government intervention.

His visit to Plateau State drew national attention after he held talks with Governor Caleb Mutfwang and visited victims of herdsmen attacks.

According to reliable sources, Obi’s team had reached out to the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) through its Executive Secretary, Sir James Iorpuu, to officially notify the agency and seek access to designated camps for the visit.

However, it appears the move has sparked a political storm within Benue’s corridors of power.

Top government officials reportedly advised Governor Alia against granting Obi access to the IDP camps, citing political undertones.

The visit, they argued, could be perceived as a calculated move by former Governor Samuel Ortom, a staunch supporter of Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election, to revive his political relevance and embarrass the current administration.

Beyond the Ortom factor, sources also revealed that the decision to stop Obi’s visit was influenced by wider political calculations.

“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) amid tensions with some national leaders of the party.

“The governor is very conscious of his relationship with the Presidency and party hierarchy. Allowing Obi’s visit would not only trigger local political drama with Ortom but might also be interpreted in Abuja as a subtle alignment with the opposition at a time when Alia is battling internal party issues. This is not the kind of message he wants to send to the President.

“Such an association, especially with a high-profile opposition figure like Obi, could be politically damaging for Alia, who has been working to consolidate his hold on the state and maintain good standing with President Bola Tinubu’s administration,” a source told Ekwutosblog on Monday.

It would be recalled that in the February 25, 2023 presidential poll, Obi pulled a stunning performance in Benue State, securing over 308,000 votes, a figure that shocked many given the dominance traditionally enjoyed by the two major parties – APC and PDP.

His victory in the state was largely attributed to the support of Ortom and a groundswell of youth-driven, faith-based and middle-class backing.

Following this backdrop, sources disclosed that Governor Alia was convinced by his inner circle to forestall Obi’s visit to avoid reigniting political rivalries or offering Ortom and the Labour Party a platform to reassert influence in the state.

As a result, the governor reportedly instructed his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, to issue a public statement cautioning against what it described as “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,” he warned.

Though the statement fell short of directly naming Peter Obi, insiders confirmed that it was a veiled warning aimed at dissuading the former presidential candidate from proceeding with his proposed outreach.

One government source, speaking anonymously, said, “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.”

As of the time of filing this report, neither Obi’s camp nor the Labour Party has issued an official statement regarding the restriction.

However, a source close to the former governor disclosed that the visit was purely humanitarian and part of Obi’s ongoing national outreach to communities affected by violence and displacement.

 

 

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Ekiti 2026: SDP slams Oyebanji’s performance, APC fires back

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Political temperature in Ekiti State is already heating up as the 2026 governorship election approaches, with the opposition Social Democratic Party, SDP, and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, locked in a war of words over Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s leadership.

SDP State Chairman, Bamikole Ayodele, on Thursday, criticized the Oyebanji-led administration, accusing it of underperforming in critical sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, security, tourism, and job creation.

He alleged that the governor had mismanaged public resources and failed to meet the expectations of the electorate.

“The governor is not delivering on his mandate,” Ayodele said during a press briefing in Ado-Ekiti. “There is little to show in terms of infrastructure. Ekiti, being an agriculturally rich state, has seen no meaningful reform to empower our youth or boost food production.”

He also accused the administration of partisan governance, claiming that employment and development initiatives are being disproportionately directed toward APC loyalists.

“Governor Oyebanji must remember he governs the entire state, not just his party,” he said, urging the administration to embrace innovation, merit, and inclusivity.

In a swift reaction, APC State Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe, dismissed the SDP’s criticisms as baseless and politically motivated. He described the opposition as “moribund” and its leaders as people seeking relevance ahead of the next election cycle.

“Oyebanji’s performance speaks for itself,” Dipe stated. “From agriculture to infrastructure, security to tourism, the administration is making meaningful progress. Visit the rural areas, projects are ongoing. Though the rainy season may slow construction, the development efforts are visible.”

He cited the restoration of electricity to long-neglected communities and road construction projects in remote areas as clear indicators of the administration’s commitment to inclusive growth. Dipe also pointed to the governor’s high approval ratings among residents as proof of public confidence.

“The people of Ekiti know who is working for them,” The SDP’s claim that it can unseat the APC in 2026 is not only unrealistic but laughable. They lack the structure and visibility to mount a serious challenge,” he said.

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2027: Resign before joining other party – PDP tells alleged ADC members

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The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Cross River State has called for the resignation of its members listed as coordinators of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Mike Ojisi, made this call in a statement on Thursday.

Ojisi said the party is not against members exercising their fundamental right to freedom of association as enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution.

However, the spokesman added that members wishing to join other political parties must resign from the PDP first, as dual party membership is not allowed.

“The State Working Committee (SWC) has noted a publication naming some SWC members and Chapter Chairmen as ADC coordinators in Cross River State.

“The SWC, therefore, urges those named to be honourable and either publicly denounce the publication or resign their PDP positions within 48 hours.

“Otherwise, the party will apply the relevant disciplinary provisions of its constitution against them,” he said.

Ojisi stated further that the PDP was not in any coalition, as resolved at its 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting recently held in Abuja.

He charged Executive Committee members to stay loyal to the PDP and avoid activities that may be seen as defection or anti-party conduct.

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I was Buhari’s agent, sent several times to Tinubu – Garba shehu

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Former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu, has narrated how he operated as an agent of the former President.

Shehu disclosed that as Buhari’s agent, he was sent severally to President Bola Tinubu to seek his support especially on issues concerning the media.

Shehu disclosed this during the unveiling of his book ‘According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience’, in Abuja.

According to Shehu, Tinubu controls Nigeria’s biggest media assets.

He insisted that Tinubu never failed to assist Buhari when necessary.

Shehu said: “As a (Muhammadu) Buhari’s Agent, I have been sent a number of times to Bola Ahmed Tinubu to find support to some of our communication issues.

“Because then, till today, President Tinubu has this country’s biggest media assets, and he has never failed to come to our (Buhari government’s) aid.”

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