Display Your Anger With Your Ballot Paper — Keyamo Reacts to Attack on Peter Obi

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has condemned the reported blockade of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, during his visit to Benue State.

Keyamo described the incident as unacceptable in a democratic society, stressing that political candidates should be allowed to move freely and carry out their legitimate political activities without intimidation, threats or violence.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Obi’s convoy was reportedly prevented by angry protesters from proceeding to the venue of his planned visit in Benue State on Tuesday.

Reacting to the development in a statement on Wednesday, Keyamo said the incident should be condemned regardless of the circumstances surrounding it. He noted that whether the protest resulted from internal disagreements within the NDC, as claimed by the Benue State Government, or was allegedly sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC) or another political party, such actions should have no place in Nigeria’s democracy.

The minister also dismissed arguments that Obi’s planned visit to Yelwata, a community that witnessed a deadly attack in 2025, was politically motivated. According to him, even if there were concerns over the purpose of the visit, they could not justify preventing a political candidate from moving freely.

Keyamo maintained that every politician should be permitted to conduct political activities peacefully, without being subjected to crude interference or physical confrontation.

The minister also criticised what he described as partisan media coverage of political confrontations. He accused some sections of the media of applying different standards when reporting incidents involving candidates of the ruling APC and those of opposition parties.

According to Keyamo, confrontations involving APC candidates are sometimes portrayed as evidence of public rejection, while similar incidents involving opposition figures are described as attacks allegedly carried out by sponsored thugs or hoodlums.

He urged media organisations and journalists to maintain neutrality and apply the same standards when reporting political activities, stressing that fairness should not depend on the political affiliation of those involved.

Keyamo further condemned political violence and called on Nigerians to channel their grievances through democratic means rather than resorting to physical attacks during campaigns.

He urged anyone dissatisfied with a candidate or political party to express their anger at the ballot box on election day instead of engaging in violence.

“Whoever is angry at any candidate of any political party should display the anger with the ballot paper on voting day by a simple thumbprint, not by violent acts during campaigns,” Keyamo stated.