The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has described claims by former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi of threats to his life as misleading and baseless.
Ganduje, in a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday night, called Obi’s allegations “sheer mischief and outright falsehood” designed to gain public sympathy, emphasizing that the claim would have been ignored if not for the need to refute it publicly.
The APC Chairman accused Obi of sharing a “malicious lie aimed at seeking attention and playing the victim for emotional blackmail” through his verified X handle. He clarified that the accusations arose from a misrepresentation of comments made by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, during an interview on Arise TV on January 4, 2025. “At no point did Morka threaten Obi or his family,” Ganduje stated.
“By falsely claiming that Morka threatened his life, Mr Obi has libelled Morka in the extreme and incited his online supporters to issue death threats against Morka and his family,” Ganduje said, urging public figures like Obi to prioritize truthfulness, as spreading falsehoods could undermine public trust.
Defending Morka’s comments, Ganduje explained that the APC spokesperson was fulfilling his duty by holding opposition actors accountable, which is standard practice in a democracy. He said, “Morka’s comments during the interview were strictly in response to a question referencing ‘prophets of doom’ and ‘voodoo economics.’ Nothing in his statement constituted or suggested a threat to Obi or anyone else.”
Ganduje stressed the importance of free speech as protected by the Nigerian Constitution and called on Obi to avoid spreading misinformation. “Does Mr Obi expect the APC to fold its arms and allow the opposition to propagate falsehoods without any response?” he questioned, reaffirming the party’s commitment to countering “baseless allegations with facts” against the Tinubu-led administration.
The APC Chairman expressed full support for Morka’s efforts to defend the government and “set the records straight against disinformation by desperate politicians.” Ganduje reiterated the party’s commitment to upholding democratic principles while holding the opposition accountable.