The 2027 presidential race took a more heated turn on Wednesday after Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Peter Obi, raised concerns over his safety, saying he could be at risk of not making it to the election.
Obi made the remark during an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, where he alleged that the Federal Government had been frustrating his activities and those of other opposition figures.
According to him, the situation had become so difficult that he could not rule out threats to his life before the 2027 election.
“I might not even be alive. I’m telling you,” Obi said, while responding to questions about his chances of appearing on the ballot.
The former Anambra State governor, however, clarified that he was not directly accusing anyone of plotting against him, but said his daily experiences suggested a pattern of deliberate obstruction.
He claimed that opposition figures were being targeted and alleged that some people now avoided publicly associating with him because they feared becoming victims of similar pressure.
Obi also cited an incident at an airport where he claimed his vehicle was locked despite other cars being parked in the same area, describing it as part of the challenges he had faced.
He further alleged that some supporters had advised him against attending personal events because they were worried about possible consequences of publicly identifying with him.
APC dismisses allegation
The All Progressives Congress (APC) rejected Obi’s claims, describing them as baseless.
The party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, said Obi had become irrelevant politically and accused the opposition of relying on allegations rather than presenting policies to Nigerians.
Basiru said the APC remained focused on governance and was confident of defeating opposition parties again in the 2027 elections.
He argued that Obi and other opposition leaders had failed to make significant political impact since the 2023 election and urged them to focus on presenting alternatives to voters.
NDC, supporters demand protection
The NDC expressed concern over Obi’s comments and accused the Federal Government of failing to provide adequate security for the opposition candidate.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abdulmumin Abdulsalam, said Obi’s position as a former presidential candidate meant he deserved proper protection.
He warned that the government would be held responsible if anything happened to Obi, adding that political figures should be protected regardless of party affiliation.
The Obidient Movement Worldwide also backed Obi’s concerns, with its National Coordinator, Dr Yunusa Tanko, saying the former governor’s experience reflected broader challenges faced by opposition voices in the country.
Tanko alleged that Obi had faced repeated difficulties while trying to engage with students and attend public programmes across different states.
PDP joins criticism
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party also supported Obi’s claims, accusing the APC-led government of putting pressure on opposition figures ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party alleged that opposition leaders were being targeted politically, economically and socially because of growing dissatisfaction with the ruling party.
The controversy comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition parties positioning themselves to challenge the APC at the polls.
