Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called for fairness and consistency in media reporting of political incidents following the disruption of Peter Obi’s planned visit to Benue State.
Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, made the call in a post on X on Wednesday while condemning reports that protesters prevented Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), from proceeding to the venue of his scheduled engagement in the state.
The minister said the incident should be condemned regardless of the circumstances surrounding it, including claims by the Benue State Government that the disruption stemmed from internal disagreements within the NDC or allegations that it was sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC) or another rival political party.
“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,” Keyamo said.
He also acknowledged allegations that Obi’s planned visit to Yelwata, where deadly attacks occurred in 2025, was politically motivated and aimed at reigniting emotions surrounding the incident.
However, Keyamo maintained that such concerns did not justify preventing the former Anambra State governor from moving freely or conducting political activities.
“That is still not acceptable; everyone should be allowed to move about freely and play their politics without such crude interference,” he said.
The minister also accused what he described as a partisan section of the media of applying different standards when reporting confrontations involving politicians from the ruling APC and opposition parties.
According to Keyamo, incidents involving APC candidates are sometimes portrayed as evidence of public rejection, while similar confrontations involving opposition politicians are described 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 organisations to avoid partisan reporting and apply the same standards when covering political activities across party lines.
“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 added.
He further criticised opposition politicians who, he alleged, encourage supporters to attack or physically confront APC candidates in areas where the ruling party has limited support.
Keyamo said political disagreements should be settled through the ballot box rather than violence during election 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,” he said.
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