The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress for the 2027 election, Peter Obi, says he may not be alive to contest the poll, alleging that the government is frustrating his activities and targeting opposition figures.
Obi made the remarks during an interview on With Chude, which media personality Chude Jideonwo posted on X on Wednesday.
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. 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.
“And I see people I know at the airport, they will not greet me because they are fearing that if they greet me…”
The former Labour Party presidential candidate also claimed that some supporters had discouraged him from attending family events.
“And I have people send me invitations and say, ‘My son, my daughter is wedding, but please don’t come,’” he said.
Obi did not provide evidence to support his allegations during the interview, and the Federal Government had yet to respond to his claims as of the time of filing this report.
