The Presidency has dismissed claims by the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, that his life is under threat and that he is being targeted by the administration of Bola Tinubu.
Obi had alleged that the federal government was frustrating him and creating an atmosphere that threatened his safety ahead of the 2027 general election.
Reacting on Wednesday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, rejected the allegations, describing them as baseless.
"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," Onanuga said.
He argued that Obi's allegations were intended to attract public sympathy and shift attention from challenges facing his political movement.
"These claims lack substance and are designed to attract undue sympathy and deflect attention from his credibility deficit and the problems faced by his SPV and his adopted political association, the NDC," he added.
Onanuga also accused Obi of linking the government to every personal inconvenience he experiences, describing his allegations as exaggerated and unfounded.
Referring to Obi's claim that airport officials once locked his vehicle, the presidential spokesman suggested the incident may have resulted from a breach of parking regulations rather than political interference.
He also addressed concerns raised by Obi over Fidelity Bank Plc, where the former Anambra governor has interests, insisting the financial institution is not under pressure from the federal government.
"The government is certainly not targeting the bank. Rather than being 'haunted' by the government, Mr Obi appears to be grappling with the consequences of his litany of unfounded statements," Onanuga said.
According to the presidential aide, the Tinubu administration remains focused on implementing economic reforms and has no interest in being distracted by Obi's claims.
"It has neither the time nor the inclination to be distracted by Mr Obi's self-serving narratives and lies or by his candidacy, as he constantly diminishes himself with specious, unverifiable utterances," he said.
