A prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in the South-East, Dr. George Agbakahi, has described allegations by former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, that there are plans to prevent him from contesting the 2027 presidential election as baseless, unfortunate, and politically motivated.
In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja at the weekend, Agbakahi argued that such serious claims of executive interference in the electoral process must be supported by credible and verifiable evidence rather than speculation or political rhetoric.
Reacting to Obi’s assertions of plots to block his presidential ambition, Agbakahi said there is no publicly available evidence linking the Federal Government or the Presidency to any scheme aimed at stopping qualified opposition figures from participating in the 2027 election.
“Legal issues surrounding the registration status of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, are matters currently before the courts and stem from disputes involving political parties rather than actions initiated by the Federal Government,” he stated.
Agbakahi emphasized that Nigeria’s constitutional framework guarantees the independence of the judiciary, with avenues available for litigants to seek redress through the appellate process if dissatisfied with court decisions.
He also highlighted the autonomy of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), noting that the electoral body is constitutionally empowered to regulate political parties and conduct elections without interference from the executive.
The APC leader stressed that all political parties must comply with constitutional and statutory requirements, describing legal and regulatory scrutiny of political organisations as a normal feature of democratic governance that should not be misconstrued as political persecution.
Agbakahi further urged presidential aspirants to focus on building strategic foresight, institutional preparedness, and organisational competence in managing their political platforms, saying the responsibility for ensuring the legal stability and regulatory compliance of a party lies with its leaders, not the Federal Government.
He alleged that Obi’s claims were an attempt to frame routine legal and regulatory processes as a coordinated campaign against him, which could distract from internal challenges within his political movement.
Drawing from the 2023 presidential election, Agbakahi noted that while Obi’s campaign garnered significant support on the platform of change, the outcome that produced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as winner was determined through constitutional processes and upheld by the courts.
He defended President Tinubu’s political pedigree, describing him as a seasoned politician with a track record of coalition-building and electoral success, and argued that suggestions of judicial manipulation underestimate both Tinubu’s experience and the strength of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
“Elections in Nigeria are won through organisation, voter mobilisation, persuasion, and coalition-building rather than conspiracy theories,” Agbakahi maintained.
The APC chieftain said the Federal Government remains focused on governance, particularly economic reforms, security, infrastructure development, and institutional strengthening.
He reiterated that the 2027 presidential election remains open to all qualified candidates who meet the necessary constitutional and legal requirements, and urged political actors to resolve legal disputes in the courts, fix organisational weaknesses through internal reforms, and contest elections on the strength of policies and ideas.
“Democracy is strengthened when political leaders demonstrate preparedness, resilience, and institutional competence rather than resorting to unsubstantiated allegations of persecution,” Agbakahi concluded. He expressed confidence that Nigerians will ultimately choose the country’s next leader through the ballot box.
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