Minister Festus Keyamo has condemned the disruption of Peter Obi’s visit to Yelwata in Benue State, emphasizing that political candidates should be able to visit communities and campaign without fear of intimidation or violence.
In a post on X, he called for the condemnation of protesters who blocked Obi, Nigeria Democratic Congress’s presidential candidate, regardless of who was behind the action.
He stressed that whether the protest was due to internal NDC conflicts or sponsored by APC or others, it should not be justified. Keyamo dismissed the argument that Obi’s visit, over a year after the Yelwata killings, justified the blockade, insisting political disputes should not be resolved through violence or interference with campaigns.
He also accused sections of the media of applying double standards, noting that confrontations involving APC candidates are often portrayed as Nigerians rejecting them, while similar incidents against opposition candidates are labeled as attacks by “sponsored thugs” or “hoodlums." He urged the media to treat all political events equally.
Additionally, Keyamo criticized opposition leaders who claim that APC candidates are unable to visit certain areas without facing violence, advocating that Nigerians should express their political preferences through votes, not violence.
"Whoever is angry at any candidate of any political party should display the anger with the ballot paper on voting day by a simple thumbprint, not by violent acts during campaigns,” he stated.
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