A statement released on Sunday by Labour Party chieftain Joseph Arabambi accused Peter Obi of circulating what he described as untrue allegations of persecution after Obi’s vehicle was reportedly clamped for breaching airport parking rules.
Arabambi said internal review findings allegedly indicated that Obi’s car had been left unattended for roughly half an hour in a restricted section of the airport before officials moved in to clamp it as part of their lawful responsibilities.
He further alleged that Obi later obtained the vehicle’s release through a phone call, without paying the required N25,000 parking fine, before going on to claim the Federal Government was targeting him.
Arabambi argued that Obi’s later remarks—specifically assertions that his life was in danger and that he may not live to see the 2027 general election—were likely to inflame public tension rather than clarify the situation.
“This is not about politics. This is about the integrity of our public conversations. It is about the threat posed by turning victim status into a tool for influencing public opinion. It is also about the rule that everyone is equal under the law, regardless of standing, influence, or political loyalties.”
He added: “We cannot build a society where power and influence outweigh accountability. We cannot allow the message that public figures can manipulate the system, circulate incorrect narratives, and then claim victimhood.”
The LP leader said law enforcement and other security bodies—naming the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS)—should summon Obi for questioning to establish whether any laws were actually broken.
“With full responsibility, I call on the relevant security agencies—the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services—to invite Mr. Peter Obi for questioning. This is not meant to harass him. It is a request for due process. Let the facts be reviewed properly. If any wrongdoing is confirmed, let the proper legal procedures follow.”
Arabambi also urged Nigerians and political actors to refrain from jumping to conclusions until the facts are verified, saying public debate should be anchored in evidence rather than emotion.
He said airport officials behaved professionally and deserved public recognition for enforcing established regulations.
Arabambi further urged Obi to apologise publicly to airport staff and to pay the designated parking penalty, framing the step as a chance to demonstrate leadership and respect for public institutions.
“Mr. Peter Obi has been given an opportunity by the Minister to apologise to the airport staff publicly and pay the fine. That is a reasonable, measured request. I encourage him to do so in the way leadership requires—through responsibility. It would show humility and reaffirm that no one stands above the law. It would also indicate that his earlier comments were made too soon and were not supported by evidence.”
The Labour Party chieftain also criticised opposition figures who had publicly backed Obi’s claims before, in Arabambi’s view, the airport investigation’s outcome was fully established.
He said those who promoted the allegations without checking the facts owed Nigerians and the affected airport workers an apology.
