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ABUJA — The brewing controversy between the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has intensified following a fiery rebuttal from Obi’s media team.
In a direct response to Keyamo’s recent demands, the Peter Obi Media Office has vehemently rejected the Minister’s narrative surrounding a controversial vehicle-clamping incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, accusing Keyamo of a politically motivated witch-hunt, selective enforcement, and a severe breach of Obi’s personal security.
The Genesis of the Clash
The dispute began when Peter Obi, during a recent appearance on the “With Chude” podcast, lamented what he described as targeted political harassment. He cited an incident where his vehicle was clamped at an airport while he was physically present, noting that other parked vehicles around his were left untouched.
In a swift countermove, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo ordered an internal investigation and released CCTV footage on his personal X (formerly Twitter) account. Keyamo stated the incident occurred on July 4, 2026, at the Abuja domestic terminal. He alleged that Obi’s “police driver” parked in a restricted drop-off zone, leaving the car unattended for approximately 30 minutes.
Keyamo claimed Obi peddled his influence over a phone call to the airport manager to get the car released without paying the requisite ₦25,000 fine. The Minister subsequently issued a seven-day ultimatum, demanding that Obi issue a public apology to the airport staff and voluntarily pay the fine, or face unspecified further actions from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Obi’s Camp Fires Back: “A Tale of Two Incidents”
In a statement issued to ABT News by Idris Zekeri Jnr, Spokesperson for the Peter Obi Media Office, the camp dismantled Keyamo’s claims, asserting that the Minister was referencing an entirely different event and fabricating details to incite public outrage.
“The incident you posted is entirely different from the one Mr. Peter Obi narrated in his interview,” Zekeri stated, addressing Keyamo directly. “In that interview, he clearly stated: ‘I was there…’ In the incident contained in your tweet, he was not present.”
Zekeri highlighted that having two separate clamping incidents involving vehicles associated with the opposition leader only reinforces Obi’s original claim of being targeted.
The media office also debunked Keyamo’s claim about Obi’s security detail, clarifying that despite his status as a leading opposition figure entitled to VVIP protection, Obi does not have any police or civil defence personnel attached to him in Abuja, nor does he employ a “police driver.”
Timeline Discrepancies and “Selective Outrage”
While Keyamo’s statement alleged the vehicle was left unattended for 30 minutes, Zekeri countered that the entire sequence from arrival to the tyre being clamped, lasted only about five minutes.
“At most airports around the world… a ten-minute drop-off window is generally considered acceptable. Where, then, did the claim of 30 minutes originate?” Zekeri asked, adding that several other vehicles parked longer in the same vicinity were ignored by airport officials.
Obi’s camp went on to accuse Keyamo of hypocrisy and selective enforcement, pointing to recent high-profile airport disruptions that went unpunished under his watch. Zekeri specifically cited a known disruption involving Senator Adams Oshiomhole and airline staff, as well as an incident where Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1), a known associate of the President, allegedly attempted to prevent an aircraft from departing.
“Where was this same enthusiasm to instigate public outrage and issue official condemnations? Was CCTV footage from those incidents also released, or was the CCTV system only activated when it involved Mr. Peter Obi?” the statement challenged.
Security Concerns and Abuse of Power
Perhaps the most severe allegation levied by Obi’s camp is the claim that Keyamo compromised the opposition leader’s safety. By publishing real-time CCTV footage of Obi’s movements on a personal social media platform, Zekeri argued that Keyamo executed a “serious breach of his personal security.”
“Your footage established no wrongdoing. Instead, you further exposed the movements of a leading opposition figure whose security concerns are already significant,” Zekeri noted. He questioned whether Keyamo would release equivalent CCTV footage of other leading politicians who travel via taxpayer-funded private and presidential jets.
Concluding the statement with a sharp rebuke of the Minister’s 7-day ultimatum, Zekeri questioned Keyamo’s authority to issue such threats. “Are you the accuser, the investigator, the judge, and the executioner in the same matter? As Minister of Aviation, are you now positioning yourself as the law itself? Mr. Keyamo, are you the Law?”
Broader Implications
The escalating row has transcended a simple ₦25,000 parking fine, evolving into a debate about the neutrality of state institutions in Nigeria. As the Peter Obi Media Office noted, the saga raises critical questions about “equal treatment under the law, the security of opposition figures, and the standards expected in a constitutional democracy.”
As of the time of this report, the Ministry of Aviation has yet to respond to the clarifications and counter-accusations issued by the Obi camp. With Keyamo’s seven-day ultimatum ticking down, political observers are watching closely to see whether FAAN will attempt to escalate the enforcement, or if the Minister will address the glaring discrepancies raised by the opposition.
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