The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has demanded a public apology from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over allegations that he was unfairly treated by airport officials after his vehicle was clamped at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Keyamo, in a statement posted on his verified X handle in the early hours of Saturday, said he ordered an internal investigation into Obi’s claims after the former Anambra State governor alleged that his vehicle was unjustly clamped as part of what he described as a “persecution agenda” by the Federal Government.
The minister said his decision to investigate was driven by a desire to ensure fairness, stressing that every Nigerian, irrespective of political affiliation, deserves equal treatment under the law.
According to Keyamo, CCTV footage from the airport, which operates 24-hour surveillance, contradicted Obi’s version of events.
He explained that records showed Obi arrived at the domestic terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at exactly 8:28 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2026, in a vehicle driven by a police officer.
The minister said Obi and two other occupants immediately entered the terminal while the police driver parked the vehicle in a designated drop-off zone near the terminal entrance before also leaving it unattended.
Keyamo stated that airport regulations require drivers to remain behind the wheel when stopping in the drop-off area, adding that the vehicle was left unattended for an extended period despite repeated opportunities to move it.
According to him, the driver briefly returned to the vehicle at about 8:32 p.m. to retrieve an item before leaving it again.
He said airport security personnel subsequently clamped the vehicle’s tyres after observing that it had been abandoned in a restricted area.
Keyamo maintained that the security officials acted in accordance with airport regulations and were unaware that the vehicle belonged to Obi.
“When the Policeman returned again and discovered the tyres were clamped, he was directed to an office and upon getting there, he called Mr Peter Obi on his phone and gave the phone to the manager.
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“Mr Peter Obi then introduced himself and spoke with the manager, peddled his influence and requested for the release of the vehicle. His vehicle was then released without him paying the necessary fine,” the minister alleged.
He noted that the vehicle remained unattended in the prohibited zone for about 30 minutes, describing the situation as a security risk contrary to global airport safety standards.
Keyamo accused Obi of attempting to generate public sympathy by portraying routine enforcement of airport regulations as political persecution.
He also dismissed Obi’s claim that other vehicles committed similar violations, insisting that investigations found no evidence to support the allegation.
The minister further criticised the former governor for taking the matter to the media after, according to him, the incident had already been resolved by airport authorities.
Consequently, Keyamo demanded that Obi publicly apologise to airport workers whom he said were unfairly portrayed as political persecutors while carrying out their lawful duties.
He also called on the ADC presidential candidate to return voluntarily to the airport and pay the N25,000 fine prescribed for wrongful parking, arguing that no individual should be above the law.
“If these demands are not met within one week, I will be giving the necessary directives to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take the next steps against him,” the minister warned.
Keyamo said he attached CCTV footage of the incident to his social media post to support the findings of the investigation and provide the public with what he described as a factual account of the events.