The National Vice Chairman (South-West) of the Labour Party, Com. Abayomi Arabambi, has called on security agencies to arrest and prosecute the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over comments he allegedly made following a dispute involving his vehicle at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Arabambi accused Obi of making statements capable of inciting public distrust against the Federal Government after his vehicle was clamped for allegedly violating airport parking regulations.
According to him, what began as a routine traffic infraction had been transformed into a matter of national concern because of Obi’s subsequent public comments, in which he allegedly claimed he was being persecuted by the Federal Government and suggested his life was in danger.
Arabambi said such allegations were serious and should not have been made without evidence.
“Mr. Peter Obi did not simply park wrongly and move on. He went on national media and alleged that he was being persecuted by the Federal Government. He went further to suggest that his life was in danger—that he may not live to see the next election. These are grave allegations,” he said.
The Labour Party chieftain further alleged that an internal inquiry ordered by the Minister of Aviation, backed by CCTV footage, established that Obi’s vehicle was parked unattended for about 30 minutes in a restricted area of the airport, was lawfully clamped by airport officials, and was later released after Obi intervened by telephone without paying the prescribed ₦25,000 fine.
Arabambi claimed the incident demonstrated an abuse of influence and accused Obi of portraying himself as a victim while omitting key facts surrounding the episode.
He argued that the conduct undermined public confidence in state institutions and disrespected airport personnel who, according to him, were merely carrying out their lawful duties.
Arabambi also criticised opposition figures who publicly defended Obi before the outcome of the alleged investigation, saying they acted without verifying the facts and owed Nigerians and airport workers an apology.
He urged the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services to invite Obi for questioning and determine whether any laws had been breached.
“This is not a call for persecution. It is a call for due process. Let the facts be properly examined. Let the appropriate legal steps be taken, if any breach of the law is established,” he stated.
Arabambi further urged Obi to apologise to airport staff and pay the prescribed fine, describing it as “a reasonable and measured demand” that would demonstrate humility and respect for the rule of law.
He maintained that if Obi failed to do so, the law should be allowed to take its course.
The Labour Party official also argued that Obi’s comments suggesting he might not live to witness the 2027 general election amounted to sedition under provisions of the Criminal Code, alleging they were capable of bringing the government into disrepute.
Quoting American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., Arabambi said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter,” insisting that accountability must apply equally to all Nigerians, regardless of status or political affiliation.
The controversy follows recent exchanges over the circumstances surrounding the clamping of Obi’s vehicle at the Abuja airport, an incident that has generated widespread political debate. Peter Obi has maintained that the action against him reflected a broader pattern of intimidation, while the Federal Government has rejected the allegation.
