The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has demanded a public apology from the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, over claims that his vehicle was “unjustly” clamped at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, describing the allegation as false.

Mr Keyamo, in a statement posted on his X page on Friday, also asked Mr Obi to pay the N25,000 fine prescribed for violating airport parking regulations, warning that failure to do so within one week could lead to further action by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

The minister said he ordered an internal investigation after Mr Obi alleged that the incident formed part of a broader campaign of political persecution against him.

According to Mr Keyamo, CCTV footage from the airport showed that Mr Obi’s vehicle was parked unattended for about 30 minutes in a designated drop-off zone, contrary to airport regulations.

“Politics aside, every Nigerian is entitled to fair treatment under the law,” the minister said.

He added that, “I therefore instituted an internal inquiry over the issue.”

Minister disputes Obi’s account

Mr Keyamo said the footage showed that Mr Obi arrived at the airport on 4 July at about 8:28 p.m. and entered the terminal with two other occupants after alighting from the vehicle, which was being driven by a police officer.

According to him, the police officer also left the vehicle unattended after briefly returning to collect an item, prompting airport security personnel to clamp its tyres.

He said the officials were unaware the vehicle belonged to Mr Obi when they carried out the enforcement action.

The minister further alleged that after discovering the vehicle had been clamped, the police officer contacted Mr Obi by telephone and handed the phone to an airport manager.

Mr Keyamo claimed Mr Obi identified himself and requested the release of the vehicle, which was eventually released without payment of the prescribed fine.

He argued that leaving a vehicle unattended in a drop-off zone constitutes a security risk, particularly at an international airport.

“What has emerged from this is a clear case of an opposition candidate trying to whip up unnecessary sentiments for a wrong he committed with his driver,” Mr Keyamo said.

He dismissed Mr Obi’s claim that other improperly parked vehicles were ignored, describing the allegation as false.

Demands

The minister said Mr Obi should publicly apologise to airport personnel whom he accused of persecuting him while carrying out their lawful duties.

He also asked the former Anambra governor to return to the airport voluntarily and pay the N25,000 penalty for wrongful parking.

“If these demands are not met within one week, I will be giving the necessary directives to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take the next steps against him,” Mr Keyamo said.

Background

Earlier, Mr Obi, during an appearance on the With Chude podcast last week, alleged that he might not survive to contest the 2027 presidential election, citing what he described as a pattern of harassment against him and his associates.

Among the incidents he referenced was the airport episode, where he claimed his vehicle was clamped while other vehicles parked in the same area were left untouched. He also alleged that some of his associates had become reluctant to publicly associate with him for fear of government reprisal.

READ ALSO: Presidency reacts to Peter Obis safety concerns

The Presidency rejected the allegations, with President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, saying the airport incident stemmed from a breach of parking regulations rather than any act of political persecution.

Mr Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress in December 2025 and is now the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

As of the time of filing this report, Mr Obi had not publicly responded to Mr Keyamo’s demands.

The Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) has pledged to cooperate fully with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) in its investigation into major global technology companies and generative artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, saying it will provide all necessary evidence to support the inquiry.

The body issued the pledge in a statement signed by its Vice President, Frank Aigbogun, on Friday, noting that the move to investigate the tech giants will challenge the tech companies’ lack of transparency and accountability in their operations in Nigeria.

On Monday, President Bola Tinubu directed the FCCPC to investigate major global tech companies over alleged anti-competitive practices and the unauthorised use of content belonging to Nigerian media organisations.

Mr Tinubu’s directive followed a joint call in February by Nigerian press bodies on the government to intervene to protect the Nigerian press from the growing dominance of global digital platforms over the country’s information ecosystem.

NPO commended Mr Tinubu’s directive to investigate the global tech companies, noting it will protect the rights of Nigerian publishers.

The organisation said the investigation should promote a balanced digital economy that respects Nigeria’s sovereignty and protects the rights of Nigerian publishers.

“The NPO, alongside its constituent bodies, stands ready to cooperate fully with the FCCPC during this inquiry, providing all necessary evidence to ensure a balanced digital economy that respects Nigerian sovereignty and the rights of Nigerian publishers,” the press body said.

The body comprises the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP).

NPO said that big tech companies have lacked transparency and accountability in their activities for years, posing serious consequences for journalism as a public-interest good in Nigeria.

“When a delegation of the NPO met President Tinubu in March to formally complain about the existential threat posed to the media by Big Tech and AI companies operating in Nigeria, we did so with very serious concern.

“We are therefore pleased that the government has commenced this investigation. Beyond the clear and present danger posed by Big Tech’s anti-competitive behaviour, their lack of transparency and accountability also carries very serious consequences for journalism as a public-interest good,” NPO said.

READ ALSO: Court upholds FCCPC’s powers to investigate Air Peace over ticket pricing complaints

It complained that the sustainability of Nigeria’s vibrant media ecosystem has been severely threatened for years by the unfair market practices of dominant digital platforms, including Meta, Alphabet, X (formerly Twitter), and various generative AI companies.

“These tech giants have consistently undermined fair competition and the commercial viability of local media by exploiting original journalistic content without equitable compensation,” the press body stated.

NPO added that the move to investigate the tech giants marks the first major step in holding them accountable, citing similar progress recorded in South Africa.

It also welcomed the assurance by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, following the request by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Mohammed Idris, for an independent, transparent, and evidence-based inquiry.