Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has stated that he may not be alive to contest the upcoming presidential election. The former Governor of Anambra State made this disclosure during a podcast interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, posted on Facebook on Wednesday.
Obi's concerns about his safety
When asked by Jideonwo whether there was any possibility he would not fly the NDC's flag in the 2027 presidential election, Obi responded, “Not even a candidate. I might not even be alive. I’m telling you.” He alleged that the current Nigerian government has been frustrating his activities and targeting opposition figures.
Obi continued, “Every single thing I do for a living, this government is frustrating. Deliberately so. So, there is even a possibility that, if they have the opportunity, I will not be alive.” However, he clarified that he was not making direct accusations against President Bola Tinubu's government because the government does not act openly. “It’s not an accusation. I know. I get frustrated every day because you do things that you think would be normal – it is not normal anymore. They (the government) won’t come directly and say, ‘Oh, we’re doing this,’ but you can see their hand in everything,” he said.
Allegations of targeting opposition figures
When specifically asked if the government was directly attacking him, the NDC candidate claimed the attacks were not limited to him. “They are attacking everybody who is in opposition personally. I am being attacked personally. Even to provide me with the necessary things to which I should be entitled, not at all,” he said.
Giving instances of attacks against him, Obi referenced an incident at an airport where officials allegedly locked his car, despite other vehicles being parked in the same area. “I said, ‘It’s me.’ The person in charge said he didn’t care. But I said, ‘Look at the cars of other people,’” he recalled.
Fear of public association
The NDC candidate further alleged that some people now avoid publicly associating with him for fear of becoming targets of the government. The former governor 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 having a wedding, but please don’t come’,” he said.
