Demolition of President Tinubu’s Campaign Office Sparks Controversy
A part of the campaign office of President Bola Tinubu in Makurdi, Benue State, has been demolished by officials from the Benue State Urban Development Board. The building, which also functions as the state secretariat of the Ahmed Bola Tinubu Support Group, had its perimeter fence removed during the operation, which reportedly took place on Thursday.
The campaign office was recently inaugurated at a ceremony attended by supporters from Benue and neighboring North-Central states. The event was organized by Dr. Mathias Byuan, the Executive Director of Housing, Finance and Accounts at the Federal Housing Authority, who also serves as the National Coordinator of the support group.
In response to the incident, Dr. Tarnongo Simon, the Director-General of the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu Support Group, strongly condemned the demolition, calling it “uncalled for.” He pointed out that the secretariat had a valid Certificate of Occupancy and an approved building plan issued by the Benue State Urban Development Board, questioning why it was targeted.
“We came into the office this morning to work and these people just came and started demolishing the building. They didn’t tell us anything. This action is condemnable because it is uncalled for,” he said.
Despite the backlash, the Benue State Government denied any political motive behind the incident. In a statement released by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Kula Tersoo, the government clarified that Governor Hyacinth Alia was not involved in the demolition. The statement accused the group of misrepresenting an ongoing road dualization exercise as political persecution.
According to Tersoo, the removal of structures along the Wurukum–Yaikyor–Apir–Ikpayongo axis is part of the Federal Government-backed Makurdi–Enugu highway dualization project. The statement explained that affected properties were assessed, and owners of legitimate buildings with proper approvals were compensated, while those without approval or built on the right of way were directed to vacate.
“It is mischievous for anyone whose property has been marked for lawful demolition to politicise the process by repainting, mounting billboards or posting the image or name of any leader on such structures to stir sentiment or blackmail the government,” the statement read.
Tersoo noted that the demolition exercise covers the stretch of road from Makurdi to the Benue–Enugu boundary. He urged the public to disregard “false narratives by merchants of deceit,” emphasizing that the exercise is part of infrastructural renewal and not victimisation.
The demolition has reignited tensions between Governor Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. Many key promoters of the Tinubu support group in the state are reportedly loyalists of the SGF, fueling speculation that the action may have a political context despite official denials.
This development highlights the complex interplay between political campaigns and infrastructure projects, raising questions about transparency and accountability in such operations. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the public will react and whether further actions will be taken to address the concerns raised by the support group.