By Ado Salisu
The Peter Obi Media Office has accused the Federal Government of orchestrating a campaign of intimidation against the former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, alleging harassment, threats to his safety and interference with his business interests.
In a statement signed by Idris Zekeri Jnr on July 9, 2026, the media office said it was dissatisfied with the Presidency’s response to Obi’s recent concerns about his personal safety, describing the reaction as dismissive and inappropriate.
The statement alleged that recent actions by government agencies had gone beyond normal political disagreements and amounted to a coordinated effort to intimidate Obi, restrict his freedom and weaken his advocacy for what it described as a better-governed Nigeria.
According to the statement, Obi has faced bureaucratic obstacles, surveillance and hostility from state institutions.
It also claimed that businesses linked to the former Anambra State governor had come under pressure, creating what it described as a perception of deliberate attempts to undermine his legitimate investments.
The media office further alleged that Obi and his supporters had experienced increasing harassment during political engagements across the country.
It cited what it described as actions involving security agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The statement also referenced previous incidents involving Obi’s supporters, including an alleged attack on him during a visit to former Edo State Governor Chief John Oyegun and the arrest and prosecution of civil society activist Justice Crack, whom it described as a supporter of Obi.
It argued that democracy requires governments to tolerate dissent and refrain from using state institutions to intimidate political opponents.
The media office maintained that Obi’s concerns about his safety should be taken seriously, stressing that the protection of lives and property remains the constitutional responsibility of the government, regardless of political affiliation.
It called on the Federal Government to immediately end what it described as harassment and intimidation against Obi, warning that the government would be held responsible for any harm that might come to him or his associates.
The statement urged the government to focus on addressing insecurity and economic hardship instead of what it described as targeting political opponents.
The Presidency had earlier dismissed Obi’s allegations, but the Peter Obi Media Office insisted that its concerns reflected what it described as a worsening political environment for the opposition.
The Federal Government and the security agencies mentioned in the statement had not publicly responded to the specific allegations at the time of filing this report.
