Peter Obi on political persecution: ‘I may not be alive by 2027’

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, has raised fresh concerns over his personal safety and the state of Nigeria’s democracy, alleging that the Federal Government is systematically frustrating his activities and he may not be alive when it is time for the next election.

 

The former Anambra State governor said the alleged campaign of harassment has become so intense that he cannot rule out the possibility of not being alive to contest the 2027 presidential election.

 

Obi made the remarks during an interview on With Chude, hosted by media personality Chude Jideonwo and shared on X on Wednesday.

 

Responding to a question on whether there was a possibility he might not emerge as a candidate in the 2027 election, Obi said the issue extended beyond securing a party ticket.

“Not even a candidate. I might not even be alive. I’m telling you,” he said.

“Every single thing I do for a living, this government is frustrating it. Deliberately so. Everything. So, there is even a possibility that, if they have the opportunity, I will not be alive.”

While he stopped short of directly accusing the government of plotting against him, Obi said he experiences what he described as persistent and deliberate obstruction in his daily activities.

“It’s not an accusation. I know. I get frustrated every day. Because you do things that you think would be normal it is not normal anymore,” he said.

“They won’t come directly and say, ‘Oh, we’re doing this,’ but you can see their hand in virtually everything.”

The former Anambra governor further alleged that the treatment was not limited to him but had become a pattern directed at opposition politicians.

“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,” Obi said.

As an example, he recounted an incident at an airport where he claimed officials locked his vehicle while allowing other cars parked in the same area to remain untouched.

“I had a case recently at the airport, where people who work in the airport came and locked my car. And I said, ‘It’s me.’ The person in charge said he doesn’t care,” he said.

“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?'”

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Obi also claimed that some acquaintances now avoid greeting him in public because they fear being associated with him, while others have discouraged him from attending family celebrations.

“And I see people I know at the airport, they will not greet me because they are fearing that if they greet me…”

“I have people send me invitations and say, ‘My son, my daughter is getting married, but please don’t come,’” he added.

Obi did not provide evidence to support the allegations during the interview, and as of the time of filing this report, the Federal Government had not publicly responded to his claims.