According to a report by DAILY POST on Sunday 28th June 2026, a South-East chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. George Agbakahi, has dismissed claims by former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi that there are plans to prevent him from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking in a statement issued to journalists in Abuja over the weekend, Agbakahi described the allegation as unfounded and politically motivated; He maintained that any claim of government interference in the electoral process must be supported by credible and verifiable evidence.
According to him, there is no publicly available proof linking the Presidency or the Federal Government to any attempt to stop Obi or any other qualified opposition figure from participating in the 2027 election.
Agbakahi explained that the legal issues surrounding the registration status of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) are currently before the courts and arise from disputes involving political parties, not actions taken by the Federal Government.
He noted that Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees the independence of the judiciary, while parties dissatisfied with court rulings have the opportunity to seek redress through the appellate courts.
The APC stalwart also stressed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remains an independent institution empowered by the Constitution to regulate political parties and conduct elections without external interference.
He added that every political party is expected to meet constitutional and legal requirements, insisting that routine legal and regulatory scrutiny should not be viewed as political persecution.
Agbakahi argued that political leaders have the responsibility to ensure their parties remain legally compliant, organizationally stable and institutionally prepared; He suggested that Obi’s comments were aimed at portraying ordinary legal developments as evidence of a coordinated political attack.
Referring to the 2023 presidential election, he acknowledged that Obi enjoyed significant public support but emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerged victorious through a constitutional electoral process, with the outcome later affirmed by the courts.
He urged Nigerians to carefully evaluate allegations of political victimization and demand convincing evidence before accepting such claims.
Defending President Tinubu, Agbakahi described him as a seasoned politician who built a formidable political structure through years of coalition-building, strategic organization and electoral success; He argued that claims suggesting the President would manipulate democratic institutions to eliminate political opponents underestimate both Tinubu’s political experience and the strength of Nigeria’s democracy.
He maintained that elections are won through effective organization, voter mobilization, sound policies and coalition-building rather than conspiracy theories.
Agbakahi further stated that the Federal Government remains focused on delivering governance through economic reforms, improved security, infrastructure development and institutional strengthening.
