LAGOS, Nigeria – The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress for the 2027 election, Peter Obi, stated in an interview released on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, that he might not be alive to contest the poll.
Okay News reports that Peter Obi alleged the government is deliberately frustrating his livelihood and targeting opposition figures. The remarks were made during an interview on With Chude, which media personality Chude Jideonwo posted on the social media platform X at 12:19 pm WAT on Wednesday.
Responding to a question on whether there was a possibility he might not be a candidate in 2027, Peter 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.”
The former governor of Nigeria’s Anambra State clarified that he was not making direct accusations but described daily experiences of obstruction. Peter Obi said, “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,”
The former Labour Party presidential candidate stated that the alleged treatment extended to other members of the opposition, citing a recent incident where airport officials locked his car. Peter Obi said, “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,” and added, “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?’”
He further alleged that some individuals avoided publicly associating with him or greeting him, and that supporters had discouraged him from attending family events. Peter Obi said, “And I see people I know at the airport, they will not greet me because they are fearing that if they greet me…” and noted, “And I have people send me invitations and say, ‘My son, my daughter is wedding, but please don’t come,’”
Peter Obi did not provide evidence to support his allegations during the interview, and the Federal Government of Nigeria had yet to respond to his claims at the time of reporting.
