Political Assassination: Should We Take Peter Obi Seriously?

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has voiced serious concerns about his safety, stating he might be assassinated before the 2027 elections. Obi alleges that Nigerian authorities are deliberately frustrating his activities and targeting opposition figures. He cited an incident at Lagos airport where his vehicle was clamped for alleged wrong parking, while other vehicles in the same area were ignored. "Every single thing I do for a living, this government is frustrating it. Deliberately so," Obi said in an interview. He emphasized that while not directly accusing individuals, his experiences suggest a pattern of deliberate obstruction. However, President Tinubu's spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed Obi's fears as a "false alarm" intended to "attract undue sympathy." Onanuga characterized Obi's claims as a "fabricated narrative" and part of his "book of lies and propaganda."

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

Obi's fears are amplified by a previous incident on February 24, 2026, when he and other opposition politicians were targeted in Benin City. Armed men opened fire on their convoy following an event hosted by the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Obi and other dignitaries, including former Edo State Governor John Odigie-Oyegun, escaped unharmed, but several vehicles sustained damage, and party members were injured. Supporters blamed political opponents for orchestrating a premeditated attack, citing prior security warnings about Obi's visits to Edo State. The article also references the 2022 assassination of Chief Bola Ige, the serving federal Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, underscoring the history of political violence in Nigeria.

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His claim that he may not be alive for the January 2027 election and that people are being pressured not to invite him to social events is nothing more than a fabricated narrative, a page from his book of lies and propaganda.