Benue: IPAC condemns reported blockade of Peter Obi’s motorcade

Blockade

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Abuja

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has condemned the reported blockade of the motorcade of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, by political thugs in Benue.

The National Chairman of IPAC, Dr Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, condemned the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, describing it as an “evil and irresponsible act” that threatened the foundation of Nigeria’s democracy.

Dantalle expressed concern over the reported blockade in a state grappling with humanitarian challenges, saying Obi’s visit was intended to support Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and communities affected by insecurity, rather than for political campaigning.

“We condemn it privately; we condemn it publicly. It is anachronistic, it is evil, and it is bad because you are setting a precedent that will not just destroy democracy but the foundation of Nigeria as a nation as well,” Dantalle said.

He said every Nigerian had a constitutional right to move freely to any part of the country for legitimate activities.

Dantalle urged political actors and local groups to desist from hostile actions, warning that political violence could undermine national stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.

On gender inclusion ahead of the elections, the IPAC chairman highlighted measures taken under his leadership to expand women’s participation in politics and governance.

Dantalle said IPAC had established three dedicated directorates for Women Affairs, Persons Living With Disabilities (PWDs) and Youths, while also amending its constitution to introduce a pairing system for leadership positions.

“Under this provision, where a man holds a principal office, a woman occupies the deputy position, and vice versa.

“Democracy is about inclusion. Where any segment of society is deliberately excluded, whether intentionally or otherwise, it is abnormal, and we must do everything possible to alter the status quo,” he said.

On measures to translate nominations into electoral victories, Dantalle advocated the restoration of government funding for political parties through legislative reform.

He said public funding would enable parties to directly support and subsidise the campaign expenses of female candidates competing against well-funded male counterparts.

He urged women to organise community-driven campaigns to demand binding commitments from candidates seeking political office, noting that women constituted nearly half of the country’s population.

“No candidate wins an election in this country without the support of women.

“If women begin to align their votes behind leaders who genuinely champion their cause, it will naturally transform the political landscape,” Dantalle said. (NAN)