The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has given the National Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, seven days to publicly apologise to airport personnel and pay a N25,000 fine over what he described as a wrongful parking incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Keyamo issued the ultimatum in a statement after ordering an internal investigation into Obi’s recent claim that the tyres of his vehicle were unjustly clamped at the airport as part of what he alleged was a persecution campaign against him by the Federal Government.
According to the minister, findings from the investigation, including CCTV footage from the airport, contradicted Obi’s account of the incident.
He said the inquiry showed that Obi arrived at the domestic terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on July 4, 2026, at about 8:28 p.m. in a vehicle driven by a police officer.
According to Keyamo, after Obi and two other occupants alighted and entered the terminal, the police driver parked the vehicle in a designated drop-off zone, left it unattended and also entered the terminal building.
He explained that airport regulations require drivers to remain inside vehicles parked in the drop-off area, adding that leaving a vehicle unattended in the zone constitutes a security risk.
The minister said the police driver briefly returned to the vehicle to retrieve an item before leaving it unattended again, after which airport security officials clamped the tyres.
Keyamo maintained that the officials acted in accordance with airport regulations and were unaware the vehicle belonged to Obi.
“When the Policeman returned again and discovered the tyres were clamped, he was directed to an office and upon getting there, he called Mr. Peter Obi on his phone and gave the phone to the manager,” the minister said.
He alleged that Obi identified himself during the call and requested that the vehicle be released, after which it was released without payment of the prescribed N25,000 penalty.
The minister further claimed that the vehicle remained unattended in the prohibited zone for about 30 minutes, describing the situation as a violation of airport safety protocols and global best practices.
He accused Obi of attempting to create a false impression that he was being targeted by the Federal Government, insisting that the airport authorities merely carried out their lawful responsibilities.
“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,” Keyamo stated.
The minister also rejected Obi’s reported claim that other vehicles committed similar violations that day, saying investigations showed this was not the case.
Consequently, Keyamo demanded that Obi tender an unreserved public apology to airport personnel whom he said were unfairly portrayed as persecutors while carrying out their duties.
He also directed Obi to voluntarily return to the airport to pay the N25,000 fine for the parking violation.
According to the minister, if Obi fails to comply with both demands within one week, he will direct the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take further action.
“I make the following demands on Mr. Peter Obi: that he tenders an unreserved public apology to those hardworking, ordinary Nigerian workers at the airport who were simply doing their jobs, and that he voluntarily goes back to the airport and pays the appropriate fine of N25,000 for wrongful parking,” Keyamo said.
The minister added that no individual, regardless of political status, should be above the law.
(The Whistler)
