Keyamo Speaks On Peter Obi’s Benue Visit, Accuses Media Of Bias

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has condemned the disruption of Peter Obi’s planned visit to Benue State, which has sparked a fresh call for fairness in the way political events are reported by the media.

Reacting to the incident, Keyamo said similar situations should be reported with the same standard regardless of the political party involved.

Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), was reportedly stopped by protesters from reaching the venue of his planned visit in Benue State.

Reacting in a post on X on Wednesday, Keyamo condemned the incident and said it should have no place in a democratic society.

The minister, who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said it should not matter whether the incident was caused by disagreements within the NDC, as claimed by the Benue State Government, or sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC), or another opposition party.

According to him, no political disagreement should justify preventing a candidate from moving freely and carrying out his political activities.

“Yesterday’s report of the prevention of the Presidential candidate of the NDC, Mr. Peter Obi, by some angry protesters from proceeding to the venue of his visit in Benue State must be condemned by all men of goodwill,” he said.

Keyamo also addressed claims that Obi’s planned visit to Yelwata, where killings were recorded in 2025, was politically motivated and aimed at reopening painful memories of the incident.

He said even if such claims were true, they could not justify stopping Obi from moving around.

“That is still not acceptable; everyone should be allowed to move about freely and play their politics without such crude interference,” he added.

Keyamo Tackles Media Reporting

The minister also took aim at what he described as double standards in the coverage of political incidents by some media organisations.

Keyamo alleged that some sections of the media often describe angry crowds confronting APC candidates as evidence that Nigerians have rejected them.

However, he said similar incidents involving opposition candidates are sometimes reported as attacks allegedly carried out by sponsored thugs or hoodlums.

“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’,” he said.

Keyamo urged journalists and media organizations to stay away from partisan reporting and apply the same standard when covering politicians from different parties.

“What is good for the goose is also good for the gander. The Press must extricate itself from such partisanship and be fair to all,” he said.

The minister also criticized opposition figures who he alleged encourage their supporters to attack APC candidates in areas where the ruling party has little support.

He said Nigerians should use the ballot box to punish or reject politicians they do not support instead of resorting to 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 added.