Yelwata: Omo-Agege Says Blocking Obi Sets Dangerous Democratic Precedent

Former Deputy President of the 9th Senate and NDC candidate for Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has warned that the reported obstruction of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, from entering Yelwata community in Benue State could set a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s democracy.

Omo-Agege, who condemned the reported incident as a “national disgrace,” also demanded a full-scale investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged obstruction and identify those responsible.

Obi was reportedly stopped from entering the violence-ravaged Yelwata community, where more than 270 people are said to have lost their lives in attacks.

Reacting to the development, Omo-Agege said Obi’s reported visit was not a campaign rally but an attempt to meet residents, sympathise with bereaved families and express solidarity with victims of the violence.

He questioned why a peaceful visit to a community devastated by violence would allegedly be met with organised opposition.

“What kind of politics has Nigeria descended into when even mourning the dead requires political permission?” Omo-Agege asked.

According to him, there was nothing political about allowing grieving families to receive a visitor who came to share in their pain.

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“There is nothing political about preventing grieving families from receiving visitors who come to share their pain. There is nothing democratic about deploying individuals to confront a peaceful visit,” he said.

The former Senate presiding officer warned that allowing such an incident to pass without investigation could create a troubling precedent ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“Today, it is Peter Obi being prevented from visiting grieving Nigerians. Tomorrow, it could be another political leader, another community or another group of victims,” he warned.

Omo-Agege therefore demanded answers from the relevant authorities, asking who organised the alleged obstruction, who mobilised those involved, who financed them and whether any instructions were issued to prevent Obi from entering Yelwata.

“Who organised the obstruction? Who mobilised those involved? Who financed them? Who issued the instructions?” he asked.

He also called on the security agencies to explain their knowledge of the incident and the steps they took.

“Were security agencies aware of the situation, and if so, what action did they take?” he asked.

Omo-Agege insisted that there must be no attempt to bury the matter through political influence or official silence.

“There must be no cover-up, political protection or convenient silence,” he declared.

He said the controversy goes beyond Peter Obi or the NDC, arguing that it raises broader questions about Nigerians’ freedom of movement, association and ability to show solidarity with victims of violence without political interference.

Omo-Agege maintained that even if Obi had visited Yelwata for political purposes, his constitutional rights should still be respected. However, he stressed that the reported purpose of the visit was to mourn with the bereaved.

“No one should need a party card to mourn with the bereaved,” he said.

The NDC candidate also rejected any attempt by political parties to claim ownership of the tragedy.

“Yelwata’s tragedy is not the property of the APC, PDP, Labour Party or NDC. The dead belong to Nigeria, and their families belong to all of us,” he said.

He further warned against allowing political power to determine who can access communities affected by violence, urging authorities to identify and hold accountable anyone found responsible for the reported obstruction, regardless of political affiliation.

“If anyone in authority believes that political power gives them the right to determine who may visit victims of violence, they have fundamentally misunderstood the responsibilities of public office,” Omo-Agege said.

He urged politicians to place humanity above partisan interests, noting that political positions and elections are temporary while the pain suffered by families who have lost loved ones remains.

“Politics will come and go. Elections will come and go. Politicians will come and go. But the dead will remain dead, and the families left behind will continue to live with their pain,” he said.

Omo-Agege expressed solidarity with the victims, survivors and bereaved families of Yelwata and condemned what he described as the use of thuggery, intimidation and political influence to obstruct a peaceful act of condolence.

He said the circumstances surrounding the reported incident must be thoroughly investigated, warning that Nigeria’s democracy cannot afford a situation where political affiliation determines who is allowed to visit victims of violence or mourn with bereaved families.