Festus Keyamo, Nigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has demanded a public apology from Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), over claims that Obi's vehicle was unjustly clamped at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Keyamo described the allegation as false and backed his stance with CCTV footage.
Minister orders investigation after Obi's claim
In a statement posted on his X page on Friday, Keyamo also asked Obi to pay the N25,000 fine prescribed for violating airport parking regulations. He warned that failure to comply within one week could lead to further action by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The minister said he ordered an internal investigation after Obi alleged that the incident formed part of a broader campaign of political persecution against him. According to Keyamo, CCTV footage from the airport showed that Obi's vehicle was parked unattended for about 30 minutes in a designated drop-off zone, contrary to airport regulations.
“Politics aside, every Nigerian is entitled to fair treatment under the law,” the minister said. He added that, “I therefore instituted an internal inquiry over the issue.”
Keyamo disputes Obi's account
Keyamo said the footage showed that Obi arrived at the airport on 4 July at about 8:28 p.m. and entered the terminal with two other occupants after alighting from the vehicle, which was being driven by a police officer. According to him, the police officer also left the vehicle unattended after briefly returning to collect an item, prompting airport security personnel to clamp its tyres.
He said the officials were unaware the vehicle belonged to Obi when they carried out the enforcement action. The minister further alleged that after discovering the vehicle had been clamped, the police officer contacted Obi by telephone and handed the phone to an airport manager. Keyamo claimed Obi identified himself and requested the release of the vehicle, which was eventually released without payment of the prescribed fine.
He argued that leaving a vehicle unattended in a drop-off zone constitutes a security risk, particularly at an international airport. “What has emerged from this is a clear case of an opposition candidate trying to whip up unnecessary sentiments for a wrong he committed with his driver,” Keyamo said. He dismissed Obi’s claim that other improperly parked vehicles were ignored, describing the allegation as false.
Demands for apology and fine
The minister said Obi should publicly apologise to airport personnel whom he accused of persecuting him while carrying out their lawful duties. He also asked the former Anambra governor to return to the airport voluntarily and pay the N25,000 penalty for wrongful parking.
“If these demands are not met within one week, I will be giving the necessary directives to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take the next steps against him,” Keyamo said.
Background of the dispute
Earlier, Obi, during an appearance on the With Chude podcast last week, alleged that he might not survive to contest the 2027 presidential election, citing what he described as a pattern of harassment against him and his associates. Among the incidents he referenced was the airport episode, where he claimed his vehicle was clamped while other vehicles parked in the same area were left untouched. He also alleged that some of his associates had become reluctant to publicly associate with him for fear of government reprisal.
The Presidency rejected the allegations, with President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, saying the airport incident stemmed from a breach of parking regulations rather than any act of political persecution.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress in December 2025 and is now the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election. As of the time of filing this report, Obi had not publicly responded to Keyamo’s demands.
