Amnesty International has condemned the reported disruption of a visit to Benue State by Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the opposition Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), describing the incident as an unlawful attempt to restrict political activity and freedom of movement.
In a statement, the human rights organisation said it was deeply concerned by what it described as the use of political thugs to prevent Obi and members of his entourage from entering the state.
Amnesty said the Benue State Government had questions to answer over the incident, insisting that no Nigerian requires permission or prior notification to visit any part of the country.
It stressed that no state should become a “no-go area” for citizens or supporters of any political party, warning that attempts to restrict participation in political activities could violate constitutional and electoral protections.
According to the organisation, imposing severe restrictions on opposition leaders’ freedom of movement could prevent them from conducting legitimate political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amnesty alleged that the attack on the NDC entourage was a deliberate attempt to create fear and discourage civic participation.
It said heavily armed youths reportedly barricaded Gboko Road in Makurdi, the state capital, in circumstances that appeared coordinated and potentially placed members of the opposition delegation at risk.
The organisation warned against the use of state-endorsed vigilante groups or political thugs to harass rival candidates, describing such conduct as unlawful and incompatible with democratic practice.
Amnesty further expressed concern over what it called growing political intolerance, incitement and other actions capable of undermining Nigeria’s democratic process.
The organisation said it had, since last year, documented what it described as increasing political repression, including alleged attempts to prevent hotels from hosting opposition meetings, attacks on political activities of rival parties and other incidents it said were eroding the prospect of a level political playing field.
“We are seriously concerned that the Nigerian Government is doing very little to prevent political repression and violence,” Amnesty said.
It alleged that some states were adopting undeclared measures aimed at shutting out political opposition, while expressing concern over the failure of relevant authorities to investigate reported incidents and prosecute those suspected of involvement.
The rights organisation called on government authorities to take decisive action against political violence and intimidation, stressing that citizens must be able to participate freely in the democratic process without fear.
Amnesty also urged political parties and candidates to make opposition to violence and political thuggery a clear and integral part of their election campaigns.
It said protecting freedom of movement, political association and peaceful participation would be critical to ensuring credible elections and preserving public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
