…Adebayo, Obi query Tinubu over trillions spent on security, CNG, others
• Secure communities, return 45,000 IDPs, Obi tells FG
• Police arrest 46 as APM flays blockade of Obi’s convoy in Benue

Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to a public debate, demanding accountability over trillions of naira allocated to security, energy and economic reforms.

Similarly, after visiting an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Mangu, Plateau State, yesterday, Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, called on the Federal Government to secure communities sacked by terrorists and facilitate the return of over 45,000 displaced Nigerians.

The Benue State Police Command has arrested 46 persons in connection with the obstruction of Obi’s convoy during his visit to the state on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, condemned the obstruction of Obi’s convoy during his visit to Benue State.

Adebayo threw the challenge to Tinubu yesterday while unveiling his policy blueprint, ‘Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity: Governance and Accelerated Development — Blueprint of a New Nigeria, 2027–2031’, where he argued that Nigerians deserved answers on the performance of the present administration before another election cycle.

“Anyone who wants to keep his job should be able to answer his bosses,” Adebayo said. “Where have you been in the past four years? What have you been doing? Where is the money? Where are the trillions for security? Where is the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)? Where is electricity?”

Adebayo said a presidential administration should be assessed on measurable achievements rather than promises and political rhetoric.

Obi, after visiting a camp housing more than 500 displaced persons in Mangu, described the situation confronting displaced residents as deeply disturbing, saying many had been forced to abandon their ancestral homes, farms and livelihoods because of insecurity.

According to the former governor of Anambra State, more than 45,000 people have reportedly been displaced in Mangu, while over 20 communities have been sacked by terrorists.

He said the affected Nigerians wanted to return home, rebuild their communities, cultivate their farms and resume their lives in peace and dignity.

“As long as there is one displaced Nigerian, all Nigerians are displaced,” Obi stated.

The NDC presidential candidate urged the government to intensify efforts to protect communities affected by attacks and to restore residents’ confidence.

Emphasising every Nigerian’s right to life, safety, dignity and livelihood, regardless of ethnicity, religion or political affiliation, Obi warned against allowing displaced persons to become forgotten citizens, saying their homes, livelihoods and futures had been disrupted through no fault of theirs.

He called for measures to secure the affected communities, support reconstruction and create conditions for the safe and dignified return of displaced residents.

The visit followed an incident in Benue State on Tuesday, where Obi said his delegation was prevented from proceeding to Yelwata to visit displaced Nigerians and families affected by recent attacks.

Rather than abandon the humanitarian mission, he proceeded to Mangu, where he met displaced families and offered what he described as modest support as a gesture of solidarity and compassion.

Benue Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, at a press conference in Makurdi yesterday, said the arrest of the 46 followed intelligence-led operations launched immediately after the incident.

Nwadiogbu said the command was informed of Obi’s visit at 5.30 p.m. on Monday, September 7, and subsequently deployed adequate security personnel to protect him throughout his movement in the state.

“Consequently, adequate security was deployed, including three police escort vehicles with personnel led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP),” the CP said.

He explained that Obi’s movement was, however, obstructed by a group of persons, creating tension and a situation that could have degenerated into violence.

“Let me state clearly that the tactical decision taken by the police should not be mistaken for inaction. The command immediately commenced intelligence-led operations to identify those responsible.

Forty-six arrests have been made, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend all other persons connected with the incident,” he said.

The APM campaign described the attack on Obi as unacceptable and alleged that the development reflected an attempt to intimidate opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement on Wednesday by Makinde’s Special Adviser on Media and Digital Communication, Anthony Ehilebo, the campaign alleged that Obi’s convoy was obstructed by suspected state-sponsored thugs while he was travelling to Yelwata to visit families affected by recent killings in the area.

The campaign said it was particularly concerned that the incident occurred barely 24 hours after Obi joined other opposition leaders at the inauguration of the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Office in Abuja.

It is alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was becoming increasingly concerned about emerging opposition alliances ahead of the 2027 elections.

“Setting up roadblocks and engaging thugs to stop opposition candidates has no place in a constitutional democracy,” the statement said.

The campaign also faulted the position reportedly attributed to the Benue government that Obi ought to have obtained prior permission before visiting the state.

It argued that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees citizens the right to freedom of movement and peaceful assembly, insisting that political candidates should be allowed to conduct legitimate activities across the country without undue restrictions.