The media office of the Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has accused the Federal Government of weaponising state institutions to intimidate opposition figures, warning that the trend poses a threat to Nigeria's democratic space.
The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by Idris Zekeri Jnr, who claimed that recent actions by government institutions and the Presidency reflected what he described as an escalating campaign of harassment against the former Anambra State governor.
According to the statement, rather than addressing Obi's concerns over his personal safety and business interests, the Presidency allegedly dismissed them, a development the media office said had heightened fears over his security.
"We raise this alarm not from fear, but as a duty to safeguard our democracy from descending into authoritarianism," the statement read.
The media office alleged that Obi had been subjected to "engineered bureaucratic obstacles, invasive surveillance and hostility from state forces," describing the actions as deliberate attempts to restrict his freedom and weaken his advocacy for good governance.
It further claimed that businesses linked to the former presidential candidate were facing increasing pressure, creating what it described as a perception of a calculated effort to undermine his legitimate personal and business interests.
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The statement also accused some security and anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Department of State Services (DSS), of actions affecting Obi's supporters.
As part of its claims, the media office cited the reported incident involving Obi at the residence of former Edo State Governor, Chief John Oyegun, as well as the arrest and prosecution of civil society activist Justice Crack, describing the developments as evidence of growing political intolerance.
It maintained that democracy can only thrive where dissenting voices are protected and warned against what it called the use of state institutions to intimidate opposition leaders.
The media office stressed that Obi's concerns over his safety should not be dismissed, noting that the protection of lives and property remains the constitutional responsibility of government.
It called for an immediate end to what it described as hostilities, intimidation and obstruction directed at the former presidential candidate, warning that the Federal Government would be held responsible should any harm befall Obi or members of his inner circle.
The statement also urged the government to channel its efforts towards addressing insecurity, hunger and the nation's economic challenges rather than, in its words, focusing on the movements of a political opponent.
