Peter Obi, presidential hopeful of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 elections, says mounting attacks on his life and livelihood could stop him from even making it to the ballot.
He made the claim during an interview on With Chude, hosted by media personality Chude Jideonwo and shared on X on Wednesday, where he described what he sees as a pattern of deliberate pressure on opposition voices.
When asked directly if he would run in 2027, Obi gave a stark answer.
“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.”
He said he was not entering a formal accusation, but argued that his daily experience shows a clear pattern of interference.
Obi said officials avoid direct confrontation yet act in ways that, in his view, show a clear “hand” behind the obstacles he faces.
He insisted he is not alone, alleging a wider campaign to intimidate dissenting voices.
“They are attacking everybody who is in opposition personally,” he said, adding that he has even been denied basic entitlements he believes he is due as a former governor and public figure.
Everyday Incidents And Social Isolation
To show how this pressure plays out, Obi recalled a recent incident at an airport where officials allegedly singled out his vehicle.
He said security officers locked his car while leaving others untouched, and that when he identified himself, the officer in charge dismissed his concerns.
“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 said.
Obi also described a growing social isolation around him, saying people fear being seen with him in public.
He said friends and supporters now invite him to events but quietly ask him to stay away.
“I have people send me invitations and say, ‘My son, my daughter is wedding, but please don’t come,’” he said.
He framed these experiences as proof that opposition figures face not only political resistance but also personal and economic pressure designed to push them out of public life.
