The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in the 2027 election, Peter Obi, has said persistent frustrations and alleged intimidation against opposition figures have left him uncertain about whether he will be alive to participate in the next presidential race.
Speaking in an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo on the programme With Chude, excerpts of which were shared on Wednesday, Obi said he could not guarantee that he would be a candidate in 2027, adding that he faced obstacles in virtually every aspect of his public life.
The former governor of Anambra State stopped short of directly accusing any specific official or institution, but maintained that the pattern of difficulties he encounters suggests a deliberate effort to frustrate him and other opposition politicians. He claimed that benefits and courtesies ordinarily due to him have been withheld and recounted an incident at an airport where, according to him, officials immobilised his vehicle while allowing others to remain undisturbed.
Obi further alleged that some acquaintances now avoid public interactions with him out of fear of attracting unwanted attention, while others have privately urged him to stay away from family celebrations to spare them possible repercussions. He argued that the treatment he described extends beyond his person and affects opposition figures more broadly.
As of the time of filing this report, Obi did not present evidence publicly to substantiate the allegations, and the Federal Government had not issued a response to the claims made during the interview.
