The Presidency has dismissed Peter Obi’s claims that the Federal Government is targeting his business interests and that he fears for his safety ahead of the 2027 election, describing the allegations as false
Presidency Dismisses Peter Obi’s 2027 Safety Fears, Says FG Not Targeting Him
The Presidency has dismissed allegations by former Anambra State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, that the Federal Government is targeting his business interests and that he fears he may not be alive to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Reacting on Wednesday through his verified X account, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described Obi’s claims as false, politically motivated and another attempt to attract public sympathy.
Onanuga was responding to remarks Obi made during a podcast with Chude Jideonwo, in which the former governor alleged that the Federal Government had been frustrating his businesses, discouraging people from associating with him and creating conditions that made him fear for his safety ahead of the January 2027 election.
According to the presidential spokesman, the Tinubu administration has neither the time nor the inclination to target Obi or any business linked to him.
He also dismissed Obi’s claim that an incident involving his vehicle at an airport amounted to official harassment, arguing that, based on Obi’s own account, it appeared to have resulted from a breach of parking regulations rather than any action by the Federal Government.
Onanuga accused the former Labour Party presidential candidate of repeatedly portraying himself as a victim through what he described as exaggerated and unfounded allegations.
He said Obi’s claim that he might not survive to witness the 2027 election, as well as his allegation that people were being discouraged from inviting him to social events, amounted to “nothing more than a fabricated narrative” aimed at attracting sympathy while diverting attention from what he described as Obi’s “credibility challenges, his Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) and his adopted political association – the Nigeria Democratic Congress (ADC).”
The presidential aide also rejected suggestions that the Federal Government was targeting a bank in which Obi has substantial interests, insisting that the financial institution had continued to thrive under the current administration’s economic reforms.
“The Tinubu government remains fully focused on consolidating its historic and beneficial reforms for the good of all Nigerians. It has neither the time nor the inclination to be distracted by Mr Obi’s self-serving narratives and lies or by his candidacy, as he constantly diminishes himself with specious, unverifiable utterances,” Onanuga said.
During the podcast, Obi maintained that pressure against him had intensified in recent months, making it increasingly difficult for him to conduct his personal and business affairs.
“The way they are going now, I might not be alive. I’m telling you, every single thing I do for a living, this government is frustrating it deliberately,” Obi said.
Claiming that the alleged actions were indirect, he added: “They won’t come directly and say, ‘Oh, we are doing this,’ but you could see their hand in eventually everything.”
Obi argued that the incidents pointed to a coordinated effort rather than isolated events and further alleged that he had been denied benefits and privileges he was entitled to receive.
“The government is attacking everybody. I am being attacked personally. Even to provide me with things I am entitled to – not at all,” he said.
However, Obi did not provide specific examples of the alleged harassment or identify the benefits he claimed had been withheld.
