The Obidient Movement has accused the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, of allegedly using political thugs to obstruct the movement of the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the state.

The movement made the allegation in a statement dated Tuesday and signed by its Media and Communications Directorate, following an incident in which traffic was reportedly disrupted along Gboko Road near the Makurdi airport.

According to the group, the road was allegedly barricaded by organised thugs on Tuesday, September 8, in what it described as an attempt to frustrate Obi’s movements and prevent him from continuing his engagements across the state.

The allegation could not be independently verified. The movement described the incident as the second alleged attempt by Alia’s administration to restrict Obi’s activities in Benue.

It recalled that the governor had previously warned that Obi’s safety could not be guaranteed without state permission, a development the group said led to the cancellation of an earlier visit.

The Obidient Movement questioned how political thugs could allegedly mobilise to take over major roads while insecurity continues to threaten communities across the state.

“If Governor Hyacinth Alia commands a political militia capable of taking over major roads at a moment’s notice to target political opponents, a far more terrifying question emerges for the people of Benue State: Is Governor Hyacinth Alia playing political games with the very security apparatus of Benue State while innocent citizens suffer daily violence?” the group asked.

It further alleged that if the governor had control over violent non-state actors for political purposes, he should explain whether the same machinery was contributing to insecurity in the state.

The group also criticised Alia’s alleged conduct in view of his background as a Catholic priest before becoming governor, accusing him of abandoning the values of peace and protection of vulnerable citizens.

The movement said Benue State belonged to its people and not to any individual occupying the Government House, insisting that Obi, as a Nigerian citizen and former governor, had a constitutional right to travel and engage with citizens anywhere in the country.

It also accused Alia and Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, of allegedly seeking political favour with President Bola Tinubu by frustrating Obi’s activities.

The group alleged that such actions reflected political anxiety ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that if Tinubu and his supporters were confident of their electoral strength, they should confront Obi politically rather than through alleged intimidation.

“A government confident in its stewardship does not rely on highway thugs, manufactured airport scandals, or weaponised state institutions to subdue its primary opponent,” the statement said.

The movement demanded an immediate end to what it described as threats, highway thuggery and attempts to frustrate Obi’s political engagements.

It urged Alia to express any political grievances openly and face the electorate rather than allegedly deploying intimidation against a political opponent.

The Obidient Movement concluded that political thuggery and intimidation could not stop Nigerians from demanding accountability and deciding their choice at the ballot box in 2027.