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MAKURDI, Nigeria (September 8, 2026) — A letter released by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) appears to contradict the Benue State Government’s account that it had no formal notice of Peter Obi’s visit to the state, raising new questions about the administration’s version of events surrounding Tuesday’s blockade of the presidential candidate’s convoy.

In its statement denying involvement in the roadblock, the Benue government, through Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, had questioned why a presidential candidate would arrive in the state without the relevant security authorities being formally informed of his movements — implying no such notice had been given.

But a letter released by the NDC’s Benue State Chairman, Ohini Ojegbe, and addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, shows the party notifying police of Obi’s itinerary a day ahead of the visit. The letter states that Obi was scheduled to arrive in Makurdi at about 8 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, proceed to Yelwata to meet families and community representatives affected by the 2025 massacre, visit the memorial site, and depart the state before noon. It explicitly requests that police “provide security cover for him and his entourage.” The document bears what appears to be a police “RECEIVED” stamp dated September 7, along with a signature attributed to an “Officer Daniel,” a day before Obi’s convoy was blocked.

If authentic, the letter undercuts the state government’s suggestion that Obi’s team bypassed protocol, and instead indicates the police command was formally alerted to the visit — and asked to provide protection — roughly 24 hours before armed men blocked his route and, in some accounts, threw stones and rushed at vehicles in his convoy.

Neither the Benue State Police Command nor the state government has commented on the letter or reconciled it with their earlier account.

Separately, no arrests have been announced in connection with Tuesday’s blockade despite video showing armed men with sticks and other weapons obstructing a public road and, in some footage, appearing to approach the convoy in a threatening manner. Governor Alia has not announced any investigation, detention, or arrest of individuals involved in the blockade, even as his office moved quickly to issue a public denial of involvement. The absence of any visible law enforcement response to an armed mob blocking a major road — footage of which also appeared to show police officers greeting members of the group rather than dispersing them — has drawn criticism from Obi’s supporters, who argue it reinforces claims that the obstruction had official backing or, at minimum, official tolerance.

As of this report, Benue Police Command has made no public statement on any arrests, investigation, or findings related to the incident.