By Ahmed Akanbi
The Presidency has accused the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of weaponizing allegations of threats to his life to mobilize supporters of the Obidient Movement.
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Daniel Bwala, made the accusation in a post on his verified X handle while reacting to Obi’s remarks at a roundtable hosted by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) in Berlin, Germany.
Bwala dismissed Obi’s claim that there was an attempt on his life after a planned humanitarian visit to Benue State in April 2025, describing it as politically motivated.
”The desperation of Peter Obi is palpable. He recently travelled to Europe and alleged that the Governor of Benue wanted to kill him. Imagine such claims from someone seeking to govern a country like Nigeria,” Bwala wrote.
He also referenced the controversy at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where Obi alleged intimidation by airport authorities.
According to Bwala, the former Anambra State governor falsely accused officials after allegedly violating airport traffic regulations.
”The other day he falsely accused airport officials of threatening his life when, in fact, he violated airport traffic rules,” he stated.
The presidential aide alleged that Obi’s repeated claims of insecurity were designed to incite members of the Obidient Movement against perceived opponents ahead of the 2027 general election.
Bwala said the opposition figure was deploying allegations of threats as a political strategy rather than raising genuine security concerns.
Obi had told the ECFR audience in Berlin that he cancelled the Benue trip after the state government advised against it.
”You are not aware that I wanted to go to Benue and the governor said I shouldn’t come. There was a shootout when I tried to visit the place. What else do you need? Do you need somebody to die before you believe it?” Obi asked.
Only days earlier, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo released CCTV footage which he said showed a vehicle linked to Obi violating airport parking regulations.
Keyamo used the footage to dismiss Obi’s claim that he was intimidated by airport authorities.
However, Obi’s spokesman, Zekeri Idris, rejected the minister’s explanation. He insisted the footage did not relate to the incident and alleged that vehicles associated with Obi had repeatedly been subjected to undue scrutiny.
The latest exchange is the newest in a series of public disagreements between the Federal Government and the NDC presidential candidate as political activities gather momentum ahead of 2027.