The All Progressives Congress and opposition parties on Wednesday clashed over claims by the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, that his life could be in danger, with the ruling party dismissing the allegation as baseless.
However, the Nigeria Democratic Congress, the Obidient Movement Worldwide and a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party accused the Federal Government of targeting opposition figures and warned it would be held responsible if anything happened to the former Anambra State governor.
The reactions followed Obi’s remarks during an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, in which he alleged that the FG had been frustrating his activities and those of other opposition figures, adding that he might not even be alive to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Responding to a question on whether there was a possibility he might not be a candidate in 2027, Obi said, “Not even a candidate. I might not even be alive. I’m telling you.
“Every single thing I do for a living, this government is frustrating it, deliberately so, everything. So, there is even a possibility, if they have the opportunity, I will not be alive.”
He, however, clarified that he was not making direct accusations but described daily experiences of obstruction.
“It’s not an accusation. I know. I get frustration every day. Because you do things that you think would be normal—it is not normal anymore.
“They won’t come directly and say, ‘Oh, we’re doing this,’ but you can see their hand in virtually everything,” Obi said.
Asked whether the government was attacking him personally, the former Anambra State governor said the alleged treatment extended to members of the opposition.
“They are attacking everybody who is in opposition personally. I am being attacked personally. Everything. Even to provide me with necessary things that I should have been entitled to, not at all,” he said.
Obi cited an incident at an airport where he claimed officials locked his car despite other vehicles being parked in the same area.
“I had a case recently at the airport, where people who work in the airport came and locked my car, my car. And I said, ‘It’s me.’ The person in charge said he doesn’t care
“But I said, ‘Look at the cars of other people.’ And you could see them talking to each other, as if, ‘who is this one?’”
He further alleged that some people now avoided publicly associating with him for fear of becoming targets.
