Nigerian Concord Newspaper
The Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, has strongly condemned the attack on the Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Coalition (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, in Makurdi, allegedly carried out by thugs led by the Senior Special Assistant to the Benue State Governor on Youths.
Aondoakaa spoke in a press statement signed and issued to journalists this afternoon but his Media Assistant, Mr. James Ian.
Mr. Obi was in Benue State to engage with stakeholders of the NDC and to visit survivors of the Yelewata massacre, where over 200 innocent lives were killed and properties worth millions of naira destroyed last year. Chief Aondoakaa describes the incident as a disgraceful assault on democracy and a direct affront to the constitutional rights of Nigerians.
In the statement, the former Attorney General of the Federation noted that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of movement, association, and political participation. He stresses that no individual, group, or government has the authority to deny any Nigerian access to any part of the country on account of political affiliation.
Chief Aondoakaa further observed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has repeatedly emphasized that all presidential and other candidates, as well as political leaders must be free to travel across the country to canvass for support and engage with citizens ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The PDP gubernatorial candidate stated that any attempt to obstruct, intimidate, or attack a political leader exercising that right runs contrary to the spirit of democratic competition and undermines the President’s call for a peaceful and inclusive political process.
According to Chief Aondoakaa, the incident also constitutes a violation of the recently signed peace accord by political actors, under which parties and candidates committed themselves to conduct issue-based campaigns, refrain from violence, and allow opponents to move freely and interact with voters without harassment, intimidation, or attacks. He says democracy thrives on the free exchange of ideas, not on violence and political intolerance.
Chief Aondoakaa expressed concern that the ugly incident portrays Benue State in a very negative light before the nation and the international community, stating that the actions of a few politically motivated individuals do not represent the character, values, and culture of the people of Benue State.
“Benue people are renowned for their hospitality, civility, and respect for visitors. Our state has always welcomed people from different political, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. The attack on Mr. Peter Obi is therefore inconsistent with the true identity of our people and should be condemned by all lovers of democracy irrespective of political affiliation,” he said.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria further lamented that at a time when Benue people are mourning the loss of hundreds of innocent citizens to incessant attacks and grappling with widespread insecurity, the state government appears unable to prevent violence against its own people but quick to unleash political actors against visitors and opponents.
He insisted that no responsible government should tolerate, encourage, or be associated with acts of thuggery, intimidation, and harassment against political opponents or visitors to the state.
Chief Aondoakaa therefore called on security agencies to immediately conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident and ensure that all those responsible are brought to justice regardless of their status or political connections. He also urged security agencies to guarantee the safety of all political actors and Nigerians exercising their constitutional rights.
He called on Benue people to remain peaceful, law-abiding, and committed to democratic principles, stressing that violence, intimidation, and political thuggery have no place in the state’s political future.