Today it was reported that Mr Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of NDC was blocked from moving freely in Benue State to visit IDP camps. Reports had it that youths suspected to be political thugs blocked his right to move freely in Benue State. If this allegation is true, then it potends danger to constututional democracy and freedom of choice of the people. The right of a candidate of a political party to move freely throughout Nigeria, meet the electorate and campaign for votes is not a favour granted by government, a political party or any local political authority. It is a constitutional entitlement.
That is Section 41(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) expressly provides that “every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof.” Section 39 protects freedom of expression, while section 40 guarantees freedom of peaceful assembly and association, including participation in political parties. These rights acquire particular significance during elections.
A political party's candidate cannot meaningfully exercise the democratic right to canvass for votes if he or she is prevented from entering communities, addressing citizens or associating with his supporters. Campaigning is therefore an essential incident of democratic participation and must be exercised within the bounds of the law. Accordingly, no political thug, partisan group, community, traditional authority or government agency has the power to create a “no-go area” for a lawful political candidate.
Nigeria is one indivisible constitutional territory. No part of it belongs exclusively to any political party, candidate or political godfather. Where political thugs obstruct, threaten, assault or intimidate a candidate or prevent him from campaigning, they are not merely interfering with a political activity; they are interfering with constitutionally protected rights and undermining the integrity of the electoral process.Government has an even greater responsibility. Its duty is not to deploy state power to suppress political competition or to tolerate partisan violence, but to protect the constitutional rights of all candidates and provide an environment in which political competition can take place freely, peacefully and fairly.
Section 45 permits restrictions on the rights in sections 39–41 only where such restrictions are imposed by law and are reasonably justifiable in a democratic society, including for specified purposes such as public safety or public order. It does not confer upon political thugs or partisan actors any licence to suspend constitutional rights.The principle is therefore simple: No candidate can be constitutionally confined to his political stronghold. No political thug can determine where a Nigerian candidate may go. No government can lawfully permit partisan violence to replace constitutional liberty.
A free election requires a free candidate. A free candidate must be free to move, free to speak, free to assemble with supporters and free to ask for votes anywhere in Nigeria. To prevent that by violence, intimidation or unlawful governmental action is not politics—it is an assault on constitutional democracy. It is on the basis of the above that the government Nigeria both at the Federal and state levels must avoid any conduct that suggests or gives appearance of restricting the freedom of candidates of political parties from moving freely in any part of Nigeria. All candidates must be given a level playing ground to sell their programmes for Nigerians to buy. This is how democracy works.
“Tinubu Is Driving Nigeria Into Anarchy” — Rabiu Kwankwaso Warns, Expresses Disappointment Over Sponsored Political Thugs Attacking Peter Obi’s Convoy in Benue https://t.co/twr6Chtjls
On a normal, the best response to this rubbish that happened in Benue State today is a proper Million Man March in Makurdi. Action must be taken and a statement made; you cannot intimidate Peter Obi like that. It’s unacceptable!
Madness for madness!
Watch and See how Ndi Abia Rejected Senator Mao Ohuabunwa's Campaign For @OfficialAPCNg and @officialABAT ..
God bless the Abians for telling him to his face...
@PeterObi is the man cum 2027.
Candidate Peter Obi, ...and to all Nigerians,
We deeply apologize for the acts of undiluted brigandage carried out in Benue State today, as a rape of the democratic values of right of freedom of movement and assembly.
For us, the victims of Yelewata, we have been hurt over and over again by the callousness entrenched by Governor Fr. Hyacinth lormem Alia, since the genocide of June 13, 2025, that nothing is longer news.
In our modesty, we apologize for all the malfeasance emanating out of Benue today just because a candidate was coming to visit our terribly traumatized people.
— Franc Utoo, Esq. KotC
LQC (Nilai, Malaysia); LLB (Hons), Newcastle- UK); MCIArb (UK); BL (Abuja, Nigeria); MPP (Oklahoma, USA).
•Native Yelewata
No threat, harassment, or obstacle will distract Peter Obi from the mission to build a safer, stronger, and more prosperous Nigeria for the next generation.
#NigeriaWillBeOk
Benue: No state is a No-go Area for Any Person
Amnesty International deeply is concerned by the reckless and unlawful use of political thugs that blocked the presidential candidate of opposition NDC Peter Obi from entering Benue state. Benue state government has questions to answer for this brazen act of political repression. No Nigerian needs anybody’s permission or prior notification to visit any part of the country — at all times. No state is a no-go area for any person or supporters of any political party.
What happened today in Benue state is an unprecedented and dangerous act of political hooliganism that undermines the entire democratic process. Heavily armed youth unlawfully barricaded Gboko Road in Makurdi, the state capital in what appears to be a coordinated plan that puts the entourage of opposition NDC at risk. Harassment of rival candidates by state-endorsed armed vigilante groups or thugs is unlawful.
Alarming intolerance, incitements and other efforts to undermine democracy must be decisively addressed now. Since last year, Amnesty International has been documenting shocking level of political repression, including preventing hotels from hosting political meetings organized by the opposition, direct attacks on political activities of rival parties and other acts that undermine the existence of level playing field politically.
We are seriously concerned that the Nigerian Government is doing very little to prevent political repression and violence. Some states have been implementing unpronounced policy of using all means of shutting out any political opposition. We are also concerned by the failure of the relevant authorities to investigate and bring to justice the suspected perpetrators of such acts.
Political parties and candidates must make anti-violence and thuggery stance a clear and integral part of their elections campaign.