Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), has strongly rejected claims made by Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, over a recent airport incident, accusing the minister of distorting facts and targeting him for political reasons. The controversy erupted after Keyamo issued Obi an ultimatum to publicly apologize and pay a N25,000 fine for allegedly parking improperly at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Obi’s media office, through spokesperson Zekeri Idris, released a statement on Saturday disputing the minister’s account and raising serious concerns about selective enforcement and political bias.
The statement emphasized that the incident Keyamo referenced was entirely different from the one Obi described during a recent interview. According to Obi, he was present at the airport during the event in question, while the footage shared by Keyamo showed a different vehicle and time, with Obi not even in attendance. This discrepancy, the statement argued, undermines the minister’s credibility and suggests a deliberate attempt to mislead the public. The NDC candidate’s office further pointed out that there have been at least two separate incidents involving vehicles linked to Obi being clamped under questionable circumstances, raising alarms about potential targeting.
Obi’s team also refuted claims that he has a police officer serving as his driver or enjoys special security protection. They clarified that despite his status as a leading opposition figure, Obi does not have any police or civil defence personnel assigned to him in Abuja. The statement noted that Obi frequently travels across the country and has often encountered what he describes as discourteous treatment from government officials, highlighting a broader pattern of unequal treatment.
The spokesperson questioned the timeline of the incident, stating that the entire sequence—from arrival to vehicle clamping—lasted only about five minutes. He pointed out that a ten-minute drop-off window is standard at major international airports, making the claim of a 30-minute violation baseless. The statement also asked why other vehicles parked in the same area were not penalized, especially those that had been there longer than Obi’s vehicle.
Zekeri Idris criticized Keyamo for publishing CCTV footage of Obi’s movements on his personal social media, calling it a serious breach of personal security. He noted that the footage did not prove any wrongdoing but instead exposed the movements of a prominent opposition figure, whose safety is already a concern. The statement referenced past incidents involving former Edo State governor Adams Oshiomhole and Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, questioning why no similar action was taken in those cases.
The spokesperson also challenged Keyamo’s threat to direct the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take unspecified action against Obi. He questioned whether the minister was acting as accuser, investigator, judge, and executioner all at once, asking if Keyamo was positioning himself as the law. The statement concluded that the issue transcends a single parking violation and touches on fundamental principles of equal treatment, institutional neutrality, and democratic standards. Nigerians, it said, deserve clear answers on how state institutions uphold fairness and protect the rights of all citizens, regardless of political affiliation.
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