The National Vice Chairman (South-West) of the Labour Party (LP), Dr Abayomi Arabambi, has called on security agencies to investigate the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over comments he made following a dispute involving his vehicle at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Arabambi accused the former Anambra State governor of portraying the clamping of his vehicle over an alleged parking violation as political persecution by the federal government.

He urged the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) to invite Obi for questioning and take appropriate legal action if any offence was established.

According to Arabambi, Obi’s public assertion that he was being persecuted by the Federal Government and his suggestion that he might not live to witness the 2027 general election were serious allegations that could escalate political tensions.

“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 might not live to see the next election. These are grave allegations,” Arabambi said.

The Labour Party chieftain claimed that an internal inquiry reportedly ordered by the Minister of Aviation, based on CCTV footage, showed that Obi’s vehicle was parked unattended for about 30 minutes in a restricted section of the airport in violation of safety regulations.

He further alleged that airport officials clamped the vehicle in line with established procedures and later released it after Obi intervened by telephone, without payment of the prescribed ₦25,000 penalty.

Arabambi accused the former presidential candidate of using his influence to avoid the sanction before publicly alleging political victimisation.

He also criticised opposition figures and Obi’s supporters for reacting to the incident before the government’s investigation concluded, arguing that doing so helped spread what he described as an unverified narrative.

The allegations made by Arabambi represent his position and have not been independently verified. Peter Obi had not publicly responded to the claims at the time of filing this report.

“This is not about politics. It is about the integrity of our public discourse and respect for the rule of law. No Nigerian, regardless of status or political affiliation, should be above the law,” he said.

Arabambi urged Obi to apologise to airport personnel and pay the stipulated fine, describing the Minister of Aviation’s demand as “reasonable and measured.”

He warned that failure to do so would attract appropriate legal action.

The Labour Party official also argued that Obi’s remarks suggesting he might not live to see the 2027 elections amounted to sedition, claiming they could incite public disaffection against the government.

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.”

He maintained that the controversy should serve as a reminder that public office-holders and political leaders must exercise restraint in their public comments and remain accountable for both their actions and their utterances.

The statement comes amid ongoing controversy over the circumstances surrounding the clamping of Obi’s vehicle at Abuja airport, with the former presidential candidate maintaining that he was unfairly treated, while the Federal Government has rejected the allegation of political persecution.