The Presidency has dismissed claims by the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, that he is being targeted by the Federal Government, describing the allegations as false, misleading and part of what it called a pattern of “lies and propaganda.”
In a statement, the Presidency accused the former Anambra State governor of attempting to drag the government into what it described as his personal inconveniences while fabricating stories to attract public sympathy.
Reacting to Obi’s recent remarks that he was being victimised by the government, including an incident involving his vehicle at an airport, the Presidency insisted that there was nothing extraordinary about the episode.
“Peter Obi’s recent claims of being targeted by the government—citing an incident involving his car at the airport, which, by his own account, must have resulted from flouting parking regulations—are simply unfounded and misleading,” the statement said.
The Presidency further accused Obi of habitually making false claims against the administration.
“As a pathological and serial liar, Mr Obi is intent on dragging the government into every personal inconvenience he encounters, often resorting to exaggeration and baseless allegations,” it stated.
It also rejected Obi’s recent claim that he might not be alive to contest the January 2027 presidential election and his allegation that some Nigerians were being discouraged from inviting him to social functions.
According to the Presidency, the assertions were deliberately concocted to win public sympathy.
“His claim that he may not be alive for the January 2027 election and that people are being pressured not to invite him to social events is nothing more than a fabricated narrative, a page from his book of lies and propaganda.”
“These claims lack substance and are designed to attract undue sympathy and deflect attention from his credibility deficit and the problems faced by his SPV and his adopted political association, the NDC,” the statement added.
The Presidency also referenced Obi’s business interests, noting that he remains a major stakeholder in Fidelity Bank and arguing that the institution has continued to prosper under the current administration.
“It is important to note that Mr Obi has a substantial interest in Fidelity Bank. The institution continues to thrive as a result of the current administration’s robust economic reforms. The government is certainly not targeting the bank,” it said.
The statement argued that Obi’s challenges stem from his own public comments rather than any action by the government.
“Rather than being ‘haunted’ by the government, Mr Obi appears to be grappling with the consequences of his litany of unfounded statements.”
Reaffirming President Bola Tinubu’s focus on governance, the Presidency said the administration remained committed to implementing its economic reforms and had no interest in political distractions.
“The Tinubu government remains fully focused on consolidating its historic and beneficial reforms for the good of all Nigerians. It has neither the time nor the inclination to be distracted by Mr Obi’s self-serving narratives and lies or by his candidacy, as he constantly diminishes himself with specious, unverifiable utterances,” the statement concluded.
