Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo has condemned the disruption of Peter Obi’s visit to Yelwata in Benue State.
Keyamo said political candidates should be free to visit communities and campaign without being stopped through intimidation or violence.
In an X post, he said the protesters who prevented Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, from reaching the community should be condemned regardless of who was behind the action.
According to him, it should make no difference whether the protest was linked to internal disagreements within the NDC or sponsored by the APC or another political party.
Keyamo also rejected the argument that Obi’s visit, coming more than a year after the killings in Yelwata, justified the blockade.
He said political disagreements should not be settled through violence or the disruption of campaign activities.
The minister, however, accused sections of the media of applying double standards when reporting confrontations involving political candidates.
Keyamo said angry crowds confronting APC candidates were sometimes portrayed as Nigerians “rejecting” them, while similar incidents involving opposition candidates were described as attacks by “sponsored thugs” or “hoodlums.”
He described such reporting as unfair and urged the media to apply the same standards when covering political events.
Keyamo also criticised opposition figures who, according to him, boast that APC candidates cannot visit some parts of the country without being stoned, beaten or molested.
He said Nigerians should express their views about political candidates through their votes rather than violence during 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,” Keyamo said.
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