WED SEPT 09 2026-theGBJournal| Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has condemned the reported prevention of Presidential candidate of the NDC, Mr. Peter Obi, from proceeding to the venue of his visit in Benue State, describing such conduct as unacceptable in a democracy.
Keyamo, in a statement, said the incident should be condemned by “all men of goodwill”, regardless of whether the protesters were motivated by internal disagreements within the NDC, as suggested by the Benue State Government, or were allegedly sponsored by the APC or another rival political party.
“Whether the protest was as a result of internal squabbles within the NDC (as posited by the Benue State Government) or sponsored by the APC or any other rival party, this should not be part of our democracy,” Keyamo said.
The minister’s comments come amid heightened political tensions and growing concerns over the conduct of political campaigns and public reactions to opposition and governing-party politicians.
Keyamo also acknowledged claims that Obi’s proposed visit to Yelwata, where killings occurred more than a year ago, was intended to revive public emotions for political purposes and that this may have contributed to the reported blockade.
“Some have also accused Obi of attempting to whip up fresh emotions by attempting to visit Yelwata where the unfortunate killings happened more than a year ago just for political reasons, hence the blockade,” he said.
“That is still not acceptable; everyone should be allowed to move about freely and play their politics without such crude interference.”
However, Keyamo used the incident to criticise what he described as partisan reporting by sections of the Nigerian media, arguing that similar confrontations involving politicians are often framed differently depending on the political affiliation of the person involved.
“However, there is no better time to draw attention of Nigerians and the world to the spin that the partisan section of the media usually put to such incidents,” he said.
“Many a time when an angry crowd confronts or molests an APC candidate at any level, the partisan Press shamelessly dubs or spins it as ‘rejection’ by ‘Nigerians’.
When it concerns the opposition, then it is ‘attack’ by ‘sponsored thugs’ or ‘hoodlums’.”
“Just check most headlines today.”
The minister also criticised opposition leaders who, he said, openly boast that APC candidates could face physical attacks when campaigning in certain parts of the country.
“In fact, many opposition leaders openly boasts that the APC candidates cannot go to some parts of this country and shout ‘APC!’ without being ‘stoned’, ‘beaten’ or molested, yet the partisan Press do not call out such leaders and even help to accentuate such statements,” Keyamo said.
“What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.”
He called on the media to move away from partisan coverage and apply consistent standards when reporting political confrontations involving candidates and supporters of different parties.
“The Press must extricate itself from such partisanship and be fair to all,” he said.
Keyamo also urged Nigerians who oppose any political candidate to express their grievances through the ballot rather than violence during election campaigns.
“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,” he said.
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