Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has denied reports that he was arrested.
The clarification came via a tweet posted on his official X account on Wednesday, under the theme “The Recurring Fake News On Me.” Obi addressed the growing rumors of his alleged arrest, which had been circulating on social media since Tuesday.
In his tweet, the former Anambra State governor revealed that he had just arrived in his hometown of Onitsha, emphasizing that the claims of his arrest were completely false. He also expressed concern that such rumors had become a frequent occurrence.
“I have been made aware of circulating fake news about my alleged arrest. Let me state unequivocally that these claims are entirely false. I am currently at my home in Onitsha, Anambra State. Such fake news about me has become a pastime for some,” Obi said.
He went on to reference a similar incident in September of last year when rumors spread about the Department of State Services (DSS) allegedly invading his house while he was in Rwanda. He also pointed out the contradiction in the current rumors, stating that while he was in Onitsha, the false reports claimed he had been arrested in Abuja.
“The motive of these peddlers cannot be positive,” Obi added. “But let us not allow baseless rumors to distract us from the critical challenges we face as a nation. I thank the public for the concern, support, and dedication to the cause of a better Nigeria that is possible!”
Obi’s rebuttal came shortly after Felix Morka, National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), claimed that he and his family had received 200 death threats. Morka alleged that these threats stemmed from Obi’s accusation that Morka’s comments during a Sunday interview on Arise Television were a threat to Obi’s life. Morka denied making any statements that could be interpreted as threatening, calling the allegations baseless.
