The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has refuted claims of his arrest, clarifying that he is currently at his residence in Onitsha, Anambra State.
Obi addressed the rumors in a series of posts on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday, expressing frustration over the frequent spread of false information about him.
“I have been made aware of circulating fake news about my alleged arrest. Let me state unequivocally that these claims are entirely false. I am currently at my home in Onitsha, Anambra State. Such fake news has become a pastime for some people,” he wrote.
He recalled similar falsehoods from 2024 when it was claimed that DSS officials had raided his house while he was in Rwanda. “The motive of these peddlers cannot be positive, but let us not allow baseless rumors to distract us from the critical challenges we face as a nation,” Obi added.
Ongoing Tensions with APC
The controversy comes amid a public exchange between Obi and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over alleged death threats. Obi had earlier alleged threats to his life due to his criticisms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, during an interview on Arise TV, dismissed Obi’s allegations as baseless. Morka clarified that his remarks, which Obi linked to threats, were a response to accusations of “voodoo economics” and “prophets of doom.”
APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje also criticized Obi’s claims, labeling them “mischief” and “falsehood.” In a statement issued in Abuja, Ganduje accused Obi of inciting his supporters against Morka through his unfounded allegations.
“By falsely claiming that Morka threatened his life, Mr. Obi has incited his online supporters to issue death threats against Morka and his family,” Ganduje said. He urged Obi to refrain from misinformation and accept criticism as part of the democratic process.
APC Defends Free Speech and Criticism
Ganduje emphasized that Morka’s comments were made in response to a question and did not constitute a threat. “Nothing in his statement suggested a threat to Obi or anyone else,” he said.
The APC reiterated its commitment to democratic principles, including free speech, while defending the government against disinformation. Ganduje further stressed the party’s responsibility to counter opposition claims with facts.
“Does Mr. Obi expect the APC to fold its arms and allow the opposition to propagate falsehoods without any response?” Ganduje queried, reaffirming the APC’s resolve to uphold accountability and set the record straight.
The political exchange underscores the deepening tensions between Obi and the APC as both parties navigate criticism and public perception in Nigeria’s political landscape.
