By Our Correspondent
Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has said he may not be alive to contest the 2027 presidential election, alleging that the Federal Government is frustrating his activities and targeting opposition figures.
Obi made the remarks during an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, which was posted on X on Wednesday.
The former governor of Anambra State said there was a possibility he could be prevented from participating in the 2027 poll.
Responding to a question on whether there was a chance he might not be a candidate in the election, Obi said: “Not even a candidate. I might not even be alive. I’m telling you.
“Every single thing I do for a living, this government is frustrating it. Deliberately so. Everything. So, there is even a possibility, if they have the opportunity, I will not be alive.”
Obi, however, clarified that he was not making a direct accusation against anyone but was describing what he said were his daily experiences.
“It’s not an accusation. I know. I get frustration every day. Because you do things that you think would be normal—it is not normal anymore.
“They won’t come directly and say, ‘Oh, we’re doing this,’ but you can see their hand in virtually everything.”
Asked whether he believed he was being personally targeted by the government, the NDC presidential hopeful alleged that the treatment extended to members of the opposition.
“They are attacking everybody who is in opposition personally. I am being attacked personally. Everything. Even to provide me with necessary things that I should have been entitled to, not at all,” he said.
Obi cited an incident at an airport where he claimed officials locked his vehicle while other vehicles parked in the same area were left untouched.
“I had a case recently at the airport, where people who work in the airport came and locked my car. And I said, ‘It’s me.’ The person in charge said he doesn’t care.
“But I said, ‘Look at the cars of other people.’ And you could see them talking to each other, as if, ‘Who is this one?'”
The former governor further alleged that some people now avoided publicly associating with him for fear of becoming targets.
“I see people I know at the airport; they will not greet me because they are afraid that if they greet me…” he said.
He also claimed that some supporters had discouraged him from attending family events for fear of attracting unwanted attention.
“I have people send me invitations and say, ‘My son or my daughter is getting married, but please don’t come,'” Obi said.
