Tension has risen in Benue State after a section of an office used by supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Makurdi was brought down by state development officials. The incident, which happened on Thursday, has drawn sharp criticism from members of the Ahmed Bola Tinubu Support Group, who see the move as troubling and unnecessary.

The affected property is more than just a campaign base to the group. It also functions as their Benue State secretariat, making the demolition especially symbolic. According to Gossip News Now, the operation included the removal of the building’s perimeter fence, leaving members stunned just days after the office had been formally opened.

That inauguration had attracted political supporters from Benue and neighboring North-Central states. The gathering was put together by Dr. Mathias Byuan, an Executive Director with the Federal Housing Authority in charge of Housing, Finance, and Accounts, and also the National Coordinator of the support group.

Leaders of the group did not hide their anger after the incident. Its Director-General, Dr. Tarnongo Simon, argued that the action lacked fairness and suggested it may have been driven by political interests rather than proper administrative procedure.

In his reaction, Simon said officials arrived while workers were present and immediately began pulling down parts of the structure. He maintained that no prior warning was given before the exercise started. He also stressed that such a development would not reduce the group’s loyalty to Tinubu or weaken its resolve to build stronger political backing in the North-Central region.

The group further insisted that the property was not an illegal structure. Simon claimed the office possessed both a valid Certificate of Occupancy and an approved building plan, documents he said had been issued by the same state development authority now involved in the demolition.

Benue State Government, however, has rejected claims that politics had anything to do with the exercise. Officials said the demolition should be viewed strictly within the context of public infrastructure development, not partisan rivalry.

The government’s explanation came through a statement by Kula Tersoo, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia. He said the structure stood within the Wurukum–Yaikyor–Apir–Ikpayongo corridor, an area affected by the ongoing dualisation of the Makurdi–Enugu highway, a project supported by the Federal Government.

In the state’s account, buildings along that route had already gone through assessment. Those found to have proper approvals were reportedly compensated, while structures lacking approval or positioned on the official right-of-way were scheduled for removal as part of the road project.

Tersoo also accused some affected individuals of trying to twist a lawful enforcement action into a political controversy. He argued that repainting buildings, erecting campaign-style signboards, or placing the image of high-profile political figures on such properties should not be used to manipulate public opinion or pressure the authorities.

He added that the demolition process would not stop at that point, noting that enforcement would continue along the full stretch of the road project up to the Benue–Enugu boundary. The public was also urged to ignore what the government described as misleading narratives surrounding the exercise.

Even with that official denial, the development has stirred fresh debate about internal political tensions in Benue. Observers believe the incident may worsen the strained relationship between Governor Hyacinth Alia and Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, further exposing cracks within the state’s power structure.

Commentary and Analysis

Beyond the physical damage to the structure, the demolition carries wider political meaning because of the identities attached to the office and the timing of its recent launch. When a building associated with a sitting president’s support base is targeted during a government enforcement action, public suspicion is almost certain to follow, whether or not politics was truly involved.

At the same time, the state government’s explanation points to a familiar governance challenge in Nigeria: balancing urban planning enforcement with the public perception of fairness. If compensation was truly paid to qualified owners and markings were properly issued beforehand, authorities may argue they acted within the law. Yet if affected occupants believe due process was ignored, the political consequences can easily outweigh the technical justification.

What makes the matter more sensitive is the already fragile political climate in Benue. A dispute that might otherwise have remained an urban development issue now risks becoming a symbol of factional rivalry, especially as competing camps interpret the event through their own political interests.

In the days ahead, much may depend on whether documentary evidence emerges clearly from both sides. If the support group proves it had valid approvals, questions about the demolition will grow louder. But if the government establishes that the structure fell within a restricted corridor and was marked in advance, its case may gain more public acceptance.

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