Omo-Agege Condemns Obstruction of Peter Obi’s Yelwata Visit, Demands Investigation
Former Deputy President of the 9th Senate and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) 2027 Delta Central Senatorial District candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has condemned the reported obstruction of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, from visiting Yelwata community in Benue State to commiserate with victims of violence.
Omo-Agege described the incident as a “national disgrace” and a disturbing escalation in the politicisation of grief and public compassion.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, the former senator said Obi travelled to Yelwata to meet residents devastated by violence and to mourn with families who had lost more than 270 members of their community.
He said reports that the former Anambra State governor’s visit was met with organised hostility that prevented him from reaching the grieving community were unacceptable.
“What kind of politics has Nigeria descended into when even mourning the dead requires political permission?” Omo-Agege asked, stressing that there was nothing political about allowing grieving families to receive visitors who came to share in their pain.
He said even if Obi had visited Yelwata for political purposes, his constitutional rights to freedom of movement and association should be respected.
“But he went to mourn. No one should need a party card to mourn with the bereaved,” he said.
Omo-Agege warned that the incident should concern Nigerians across political affiliations, noting that normalising intimidation as a tool of political control could eventually affect any political leader, community or group of victims.
He called on the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident, including determining who organised and financed the alleged obstruction and whether security agencies were aware of the situation.
The NDC candidate urged the authorities to ensure that the matter was not covered up or dismissed as another disagreement between rival political camps.
According to him, the tragedy in Yelwata should not be appropriated by any political party, stressing that the victims and their families belong to the entire country.
“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,” Omo-Agege said.
He expressed solidarity with the victims, survivors and grieving families of Yelwata, while condemning any attempt to use thuggery, intimidation or political influence to obstruct peaceful acts of condolence.
He called for those responsible to be identified and held accountable, saying Nigeria must not become a country where compassion is treated as a political crime.
Omo-Agege concluded by praying for the repose of the departed and for comfort for the people of Yelwata and Benue State.
