CCTV Footage: Peter Obi must tender public apology, pay N25,000 fine for wrong parking – Keyamo

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has demanded a public apology from the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, over claims that his vehicle was unjustly clamped at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

In a statement posted on his X account on Friday, Keyamo described Obi’s allegation as false and insisted that the former Anambra State governor should also pay the ₦25,000 fine prescribed for violating airport parking regulations.

The minister said he ordered an internal investigation after Obi alleged that the incident was part of a broader campaign of political persecution against him.

According to Keyamo, CCTV footage showed that Obi’s vehicle was left unattended for about 30 minutes in a designated drop-off zone, contrary to airport regulations.

“Politics aside, every Nigerian is entitled to fair treatment under the law,” the minister stated, adding that he immediately instituted an internal inquiry into the matter.

He explained that Obi arrived at the airport on July 4 at about 8:28 p.m. and entered the terminal with two other occupants after alighting from the vehicle, which was driven by a police officer.

Keyamo alleged that the police officer also left the vehicle unattended after briefly returning to retrieve an item, prompting airport security officials to clamp the tyres in line with regulations.

He said the officials were unaware that the vehicle belonged to Obi when the enforcement action was taken.

According to the minister, after discovering the vehicle had been clamped, the police officer contacted Obi by telephone and handed the phone to an airport manager.

Keyamo claimed Obi identified himself and requested the release of the vehicle, which was eventually released without payment of the prescribed fine.

He maintained that leaving a vehicle unattended in a drop-off zone constituted a security risk, particularly at an international airport.

“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 said.

He also dismissed Obi’s claim that other improperly parked vehicles were ignored, insisting the allegation was untrue.

The minister demanded that Obi publicly apologise to airport personnel whom he accused of persecuting him while carrying out their lawful duties.

He further urged the NDC presidential candidate to voluntarily return to the airport and pay the ₦25,000 penalty for wrongful parking.

“If these demands are not met within one week, I will be giving the necessary directives to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take the next steps against him,” Keyamo warned.

The controversy followed Obi’s recent appearance on the With Chude podcast, where he claimed he might not survive to contest the 2027 presidential election and cited the airport incident as evidence of alleged political harassment.

The Presidency had earlier rejected Obi’s claims, with the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, maintaining that the vehicle was clamped strictly for violating airport parking regulations and not because of political considerations.

As of the time of filing this report, Obi had yet to respond publicly to Keyamo’s demands.

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