https:\/\/everyday.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/VID-20260708-WA0024.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\nObi, who has remained one of Nigeria’s most prominent opposition figures since the 2023 general election, said the level of pressure he has experienced under the current administration has become so intense that he could not confidently predict his political future.<\/p>\n
“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 said during the interview.<\/p>\n
Although his remarks quickly elicited concern and speculation, Obi clarified that he was not directly accusing any individual of plotting against his life. Rather, he argued that what he described as repeated acts of intimidation, obstruction and administrative harassment had convinced him that there were coordinated efforts to undermine his activities.<\/p>\n
“It’s not an accusation,” he said. “I know. I get frustration every day. Because you do things that you think would be normal – it is not normal anymore.”<\/p>\n
According to Obi, the alleged pressure extends beyond him to opposition politicians generally, whom he claimed are increasingly subjected to personal attacks and institutional obstacles.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
Airport Incident<\/strong><\/p>\nTo illustrate his allegations, Obi recounted what he described as a recent encounter at an airport, where officials allegedly immobilized his vehicle while allowing others to leave without interference.<\/p>\n
“I had a case recently at the airport, where people who work in the airport came and locked my car,” he recalled. “The person in charge said he doesn’t care.”<\/p>\n
Obi further alleged that some acquaintances have become reluctant to acknowledge him publicly because they fear attracting unwanted official attention.<\/p>\n
“And I see people I know at the airport; they will not greet me because they are scared of what might happen if they do.”<\/p>\n
He added that some supporters have even pleaded with him not to attend weddings and family ceremonies after inviting him, saying they feared his presence could attract unwanted scrutiny.<\/p>\n
Presidency Rejects Allegations<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Presidency responded within hours, dismissing Obi’s claims as entirely false and politically motivated.<\/p>\n
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the government accused Obi of making exaggerated and baseless allegations designed to attract public sympathy.<\/p>\n
Onanuga described Obi as “a pathological and serial liar,” insisting that the former governor habitually attempts to implicate the government in personal inconveniences.<\/p>\n
According to the Presidency, Obi’s suggestion that he might not survive until the 2027 election, along with his claim that Nigerians are discouraged from associating with him publicly, amounted to what it called “a fabricated narrative” lacking credible evidence.<\/p>\n
The statement further argued that the Federal Government has no reason to target Obi politically or economically.<\/p>\n
Responding to suggestions that Fidelity Bank – where Obi is reported to have substantial interests – could be under government pressure, Onanuga dismissed the allegation, stating that the financial institution continues to perform successfully under the administration’s economic reforms.<\/p>\n
“The government is certainly not targeting the bank,” the statement said. “The Tinubu government remains fully focused on consolidating its historic and beneficial reforms for the good of all Nigerians.”<\/p>\n
No Independent Verification<\/strong><\/p>\nAt the time of publication, there is no publicly available independent evidence confirming Obi’s allegations of systematic government harassment, nor has independent documentation emerged verifying the specific airport incident as described during the interview.<\/p>\n
Likewise, while the Presidency has categorically denied Obi’s allegations and labelled them fabricated, it has not publicly presented independent evidence beyond its official rebuttal to substantiate that characterization.<\/p>\n
As such, the dispute currently remains one of competing political narratives.<\/p>\n
Reactions<\/strong> All Over<\/strong><\/p>\nObi’s remarks quickly became one of Nigeria’s most discussed political topics, dominating conversations across X, Facebook, YouTube and other social media platforms.<\/p>\n
Among his supporters, many argued that his comments reflected growing concerns about the shrinking space for opposition politics and democratic participation. Some users pointed to previous complaints from opposition figures regarding administrative obstacles, heightened political tensions and what they perceive as selective enforcement of official actions.<\/p>\n
Others expressed concern over the tone of the Presidency’s response, arguing that rather than addressing the substance of Obi’s concerns, government officials chose to attack his credibility.<\/p>\n
Supporters also emphasized that regardless of political affiliation, every opposition leader should be able to campaign, travel and participate freely in democratic activities without fear of intimidation.<\/p>\n
Government supporters, however, rejected Obi’s assertions, arguing that his comments were politically calculated and intended to generate sympathy ahead of the 2027 election.<\/p>\n
Many insisted that extraordinary allegations require credible evidence and maintained that routine administrative encounters should not automatically be interpreted as political persecution.<\/p>\n
Several commentators argued that the former governor’s remarks fit into an increasingly confrontational political narrative as parties begin positioning themselves for the next electoral cycle.<\/p>\n
Observers Urge Caution<\/strong><\/p>\nOther observers have urged restraint from both sides, warning that emotionally charged political rhetoric could further deepen polarization in an already divided political environment.<\/p>\n
Some analysts noted that allegations of political intimidation should be investigated impartially wherever credible evidence exists, while equally stressing that claims against public institutions should be supported by verifiable facts.<\/p>\n
Others argued that Nigeria’s democratic credibility depends not only on free elections but also on ensuring that opposition politicians can organize, campaign and express dissent without fear, while public officials remain accountable for their actions.<\/p>\n
The controversy comes as political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 general election.<\/p>\n
Since the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi has remained one of the country’s most influential opposition voices, consistently criticizing the Tinubu administration over governance, economic management, insecurity and democratic accountability.<\/p>\n
President Bola Tinubu’s administration, on the other hand, has defended its policies as necessary reforms aimed at stabilizing the economy and improving long-term national development, while repeatedly dismissing opposition allegations of political persecution.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The NDC-Peter Obi Support Network (NDC-POSN) has raised concerns over allegations by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, that he is facing systematic harassment and intimidation ahead of the 2027 general election. In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Mrs. Mercy L. Akums, the group condemned any attempt to intimidate opposition politicians […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":99615,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,8],"tags":[3656,314,1546,5339],"class_list":["post-99614","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news","category-politics","tag-debate","tag-killing","tag-obi","tag-onanuga"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99614","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=99614"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99614\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":99631,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99614\/revisions\/99631"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/99615"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=99614"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=99614"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=99614"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}