The Presidency has dismissed allegations by the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, that the Federal Government is targeting him and may prevent him from participating in the 2027 general election.
Reacting to an inquiry by LEADERSHIP on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described Obi’s claims as “baseless,” accusing the former Anambra State governor of spreading misinformation to gain public sympathy.
Onanuga was responding to comments made by Obi during an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo on the With Chude programme, where the former Labour Party presidential candidate alleged that the current administration was deliberately frustrating his activities and suggested he might not be alive to contest the 2027 presidential election.
“I might not even be alive. Every single thing I do for a living, this government is frustrating it—deliberately so. There is even a possibility, if they have the opportunity, I will not be alive,” Obi said during the interview.
In his response, Onanuga dismissed the allegations as another chapter in what he described as Obi’s “book of lies and propaganda.”
“Peter Obi’s recent claims of being targeted by the government, citing an incident involving his car at the airport, which, by his own account, must have resulted from flouting parking regulations, are simply unfounded and misleading,” Onanuga said.
He further accused Obi of exaggerating personal experiences to portray himself as a victim.
“As a pathological liar, Mr Obi is intent on dragging the government into every personal inconvenience he encounters, often resorting to exaggeration and baseless allegations,” he stated.
The presidential spokesman also rejected Obi’s claim that influential individuals were being discouraged from inviting him to public events and dismissed suggestions that his life was in danger ahead of the 2027 polls.
“His claim that he may not be alive for the January 2027 election and that people are being pressured not to invite him to social events is nothing more than a fabricated narrative—a page from his book of lies and propaganda.
“These claims lack substance and are designed to attract undue sympathy while deflecting attention from his credibility deficit and the challenges facing his Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) and his adopted political association, the NDC,” Onanuga added.
Onanuga also denied allegations that the Federal Government was targeting Fidelity Bank Plc, a financial institution in which Obi reportedly has a significant interest.
“It is important to note that Mr Obi has a substantial interest in Fidelity Bank. The institution continues to thrive under the current administration’s robust economic reforms. The government is not targeting the bank,” he said.
According to the presidential aide, the Tinubu administration remains focused on implementing economic reforms rather than engaging in political persecution.
“The Tinubu government remains fully focused on consolidating its historic and beneficial reforms for the good of all Nigerians. It has neither the time nor the inclination to be distracted by Mr Obi’s self-serving narratives and lies,” Onanuga stated.
The exchange marks the latest public disagreement between the Presidency and Peter Obi as political activities ahead of the 2027 general election continue to gather momentum.
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