The Federal High Court in Abuja has accepted the hearing of a lawsuit seeking to order President Bola Tinubu and security agencies to ensure maximum protection for Peter Obi, the NDC’s presidential candidate, before the 2027 general election.
The suit filed under the FHC/ABJ and CSS code is seeking a series of constitutional declarations to protect Obi’s life from what the applicants have accused of: politically motivated intimidation, harassment, and threats against him.
Mr Okere Kingdom Nnamdi and Mr Joseph Enemona Amen, along with the Incorporated Trustees of Rights For All, a non-governmental organization were responsible for initiating the legal proceedings, as per TPCN.
The accused parties involved in the case are President Bola Tinubu, Attorney-General of Federation, Inspector-general Police, DSS Director, NSCDC Commandant, and Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo. They are listed as defendants.
The applicants requested the court to declare that Obi has the fundamental entitlement to life as per Section 33(1) of the 1999 Act. The Constitution grants the individual freedom to engage in political activities without any fear of exploitation, intimidation, discrimination or harassment. Additionally,
They maintained that the NDC presidential candidate should not be subjected to political coercion, threats to life, bullying, assault, intimidation, or victimization based on their political beliefs, ethnicity/religion or any other reason.
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Specifically, the petitioner requested the court to declare that Obi is not allowed to be subjected to any form of politically motivated coercion or threat to life and to no rights to intimidate/assault by any division of the Government of Nigeria (or any authority), based on political ideology, ethnicity, or religion, for any reason.
They also called on the court to force Federal Government and relevant security services to protect Obi as political activities in the run-up to the 2027 general election intensify.
The suit revolves around allegations that Governor Okpebholo made statements about Obi’s safety during political events in the state.
The applicants argued that the governor’s assertion that Obi’S protection in Edo State was unfeasible and that he shouldn’t enter the state without his permission, contravened his constitutional rights as an opposition leader.
Their plea was to the court, stating that the purported threats were unconstitutional, unlawful, and not in line with democratic ideals.
Additionally, the applicants requested the court to declare that the governor’s statements were void, without legal support, anti-democratic, illegal, and comparable to executive indulgence, infantile political maneuvering, or power drinking. “.
President Tinubu was not the only person named in the lawsuit; the Attorney-General of the Federation, Inspector General of Police, Director-general of DSS and Commandant- general of NSCDC were also involved, arguing that they have constitutional duty to safeguard the lives and security of all Nigerians.
The candidates are calling for legal action to guarantee that Obi receives equal legal protection regardless of his political stance. The hearing date for this case has not been scheduled yet.
