Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed as “hallucination” claims by opposition leader Peter Obi that his life could be in danger, deepening an increasingly bitter political dispute over the treatment of government critics ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), said in an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo that he faced persistent obstruction from the government and feared he might not even be alive to contest the next election.
“Not even a candidate. I might not even be alive,” Obi said. “Every single thing I do for a living, this government is frustrating it, deliberately so.”
Although he stopped short of directly accusing the government of plotting against him, Obi alleged that official actions had consistently hindered his movements and activities.
“They won’t come directly and say, ‘Oh, we’re doing this,’ but you can see their hand in virtually everything,” he said.
The former Anambra state governor claimed he had been denied privileges ordinarily available to him and recounted an incident at an airport where officials allegedly locked his car while leaving other vehicles untouched. He also said some supporters had become reluctant to be seen with him or invite him to family events for fear of attracting official attention.
Obi did not present evidence to substantiate the allegations, and the federal government had not responded directly to his remarks at the time of publication.
The comments triggered an immediate political backlash.
Ajibola Basiru, the APC’s national secretary, rejected Obi’s claims outright, insisting the governing party remained focused on governance rather than its political rivals.
“Obi has no relevance,” Basiru said, arguing that the opposition had failed to demonstrate electoral strength in recent contests. He suggested the former Labour Party candidate “needs a psychiatric evaluation” to determine whether he was “hallucinating”.
Basiru said the APC would seek re-election in 2027 on the strength of its record, accusing opposition parties of relying on “baseless allegations” instead of presenting credible policy alternatives.
The NDC, however, described Obi’s remarks as deeply troubling and accused the government of failing to provide adequate security for one of the country’s leading opposition figures.
The party’s national publicity secretary, Abdulmumin Abdulsalam, said it would hold the federal government responsible if any harm befell Obi, alleging that the former governor had been systematically denied sufficient security protection.
He compared Obi’s situation with the security arrangements provided to former president Muhammadu Buhari during his years in opposition under the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan, arguing that democratic norms required the protection of major political challengers regardless of party affiliation.
The Obidient Movement Worldwide, which backs Obi, echoed those concerns.
Its national coordinator, Yunusa Tanko, said Obi’s comments reflected a broader pattern of intimidation directed at opposition politicians and their supporters. He alleged that several universities had cancelled planned lectures by Obi under official pressure, preventing him from engaging with students across the country.
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also backed Obi’s claims. Ini Ememobong, spokesperson for the Tanimu Turaki-led interim national working committee, accused the APC of using political pressure against opposition figures because of growing public dissatisfaction with the government ahead of the next general election.
He alleged that opposition politicians were being marginalised politically and economically, arguing that the government’s actions reflected increasing anxiety over the electoral challenge it could face in 2027.
The exchange marks the latest escalation in Nigeria’s increasingly polarised political environment as parties begin positioning themselves for the next presidential race, despite the election remaining more than a year away.
