In a released statement, Kwankwaso asserted that the perpetrators were intentionally deployed to obstruct Obi from entering Makurdi. Characterizing the assault as a bleak moment for the nation’s democratic framework, he called upon the Benue State Government to promptly track down and prosecute the culprits.

Kwankwaso emphasized that constitutional guarantees of free movement extend universally, particularly to prominent opposition figures like Obi. He demanded that state authorities take immediate measures to secure the safety and unhindered movement of the candidate and his delegation. Furthermore, the NDC vice-presidential candidate appealed to President Bola Tinubu to restrain state governors—specifically those affiliated with the ruling party—from actions that compromise democratic integrity, while also urging international diplomatic missions and observation groups to monitor the situation and hold Nigerian authorities accountable for protecting political freedoms and the rule of law.

Responding to the incident through Kula Tersoo, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, the state administration maintained it was completely unaware of the trip, noting that advanced notice would have enabled a swifter official response. Tersoo also raised concerns regarding Obi’s security detail, emphasizing that as a former governor and national presidential candidate, his movements should involve coordination between federal security agencies and host-state authorities.

Furthermore, the governor’s aide firmly dismissed allegations linking the state government to the youths who blocked the convoy, asserting that the administration does not employ thugs and views Obi as no political threat to Governor Alia. Tersoo concluded by reiterating the administration’s absolute lack of prior knowledge regarding the visit, stating that they only became aware of the situation through media inquiries.

Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has launched a scathing critique against his successor, incumbent Governor Hyacinth Alia, accusing the current administration of subverting democratic norms and prioritizing political victimization over good governance. Appearing on Arise Television, Ortom asserted that Governor Alia has completely discarded the rule of law, choosing instead to focus his administration’s energy on witch-hunting and undermining political opponents. Reflecting on the political climate over the past three years and several months, Ortom remarked that the government operates under a mandate of opposition suppression rather than public service.

A central point of contention highlighted by Ortom involves the contentious seizure of 23 official vehicles assigned to him and key officials from his preceding administration. According to the former governor, these utility assets were legitimately authorized and approved as used vehicles by the State Executive Council after surpassing four years of operational service, and were confiscated by the current government without any prior notice or formal communication. In response to the seizure, Ortom sought legal recourse, securing a court judgment that mandated the immediate return of the vehicles alongside an award of ₦5 million in damages. Despite this definitive legal victory, Ortom revealed that the state government has neither returned the fleet nor filed an appeal against the ruling, leaving the vehicles withheld.

Beyond the ongoing dispute over state property, Ortom further alleged a pattern of political interference targeting his personal and familial engagements. He claimed that Governor Alia issued direct directives instructing traditional rulers within his local constituency to shun him and deny him an audience during a recent visit to his kinsmen regarding his wife’s senatorial ambitions. According to Ortom’s accounts, traditional authorities were explicitly forbidden from receiving him or allowing him to address them, illustrating a broader systemic effort to restrict his freedom of movement and political expression within the state.