NDC, Sowore fault ‘attack, disruption’ of Peter Obi’s visit in Benue

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has expressed his disapproval of media coverage that favors a particular political narrative following the disruption of Peter Obi's visit to Benue State. Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, condemned the reported prevention of Obi from reaching his intended destination, stating that such behavior should not be tolerated in a democratic society.

He emphasized that the incident, whether it arose from internal conflicts within the NDC or was allegedly orchestrated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) or another rival party, should be condemned by all. Keyamo also addressed allegations that Obi's planned visit to Yelwata, a location notorious for killings in 2025, was politically motivated to reignite emotions surrounding the incident.

However, he maintained that such allegations did not justify blocking Obi from moving freely and participating in politics without interference. Keyamo accused the "partisan section of the media" of applying inconsistent standards when reporting incidents involving candidates of the ruling APC and opposition parties. He noted that when an APC candidate is confronted or allegedly molested by an angry crowd, some media outlets describe it as a "rejection" by Nigerians, while similar incidents involving opposition politicians are reported as attacks by "sponsored thugs" or "hoodlums."

Keyamo urged the media to adopt a fair and unbiased approach, applying the same standards to all political parties and candidates. He also criticized opposition leaders who allegedly encourage supporters to physically confront or harm APC candidates in areas where the party is unpopular. Keyamo stressed that political disagreements should be expressed through the democratic process of voting rather than through violent acts during campaigns.