Obi's detention, a false alarm

Presidential candidate doubts Peter Obi UK immigration story

Freelanews April 12, 2023

One of the presidential candidates in the last February 25 election in Nigeria, Omoyele Sowore, has cast doubts over the story making rounds in the social media that Labour Party’s candidate in the same election, Peter Obi, was detained in the United Kingdom.

Recall that Obi-Datti Campaign Office released a statement on Wednesday that Obi was pulled aside for an alleged duplication offense, implying that he had an impersonator in the country.

Sowore’s stance is coming after Freelanews’ exclusive on how an eyewitness had also debunked the story. Read here.

The candidate of African Action Congress wondered how Obi could be mistaken as impersonator considering the hi-tech mechanism being deployed in the country.

ALSO READ: Fani-Kayode tells Peter Obi, do us a favour, leave Nigeria, and don’t return

“There is something suspicious about @peterobi’s UK “Immigration Story,” because I don’t see how a modern biometric passport with his fingerprints and biometric identity could lead to his being seen as an “impersonator” or a clone, more curious is why he’s sending third parties to tell half of the story. Something fishy is going on!” he said.

There is something suspicious about @peterobi’s UK “Immigration Story,” because I don’t see how a modern biometric passport with his fingerprints and biometric identity could lead to his being seen as an “impersonator” or a clone, more curious is why he’s sending third parties…
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) April 12, 2023

Obi, who came third in the 25 February presidential election, and his party, who are co-petitioners, are currently seeking to upturn Tinubu’s victory as Nigeria’s president-elect declared by INEC.

Tinubu, APC presidential candidate, polled 8.8 million votes to beat Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party who came second in the race and Obi third.

In particular, Obi and his party accused the INEC and the APC of manipulating election results in favour of Tinubu.

But contrary to Obi’s claims that the election fell short of provisions of relevant laws, INEC argued that it conducted the polls in strict compliance with the constitution and electoral laws. The electoral umpire challenged Obi and his party to prove the contrary.