The Federal High Court in Abuja has accepted a case demanding that President Bola Tinubu ensure the physical safety of Peter Obi, the Nigerian Democratic Party presidential candidate, as the 2027 election approaches. Filed under reference FHC/ABJ/CS/1648/2026, the legal action emphasizes Obi’s constitutional rights to life and security, free from intimidation, harassment, or assassination attempts, as outlined in Section 33(1) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.
The applicants argue that Obi should not face politically driven coercion, victimization, or bullying from government authorities or individuals based on his religious, ethnic, or political background. A key focus of the suit involves claims regarding Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo. The legal team contends that the Governor’s public statements—suggesting Obi’s security cannot be assured in Edo State and requiring permission for his entry—are illegal, undemocratic, and represent an abuse of executive power.
The lawsuit was initiated by attorneys Okere Kingdom Nnamdi and Joseph Enemona Amen, alongside the Incorporated Trustees of Rights For All. Defendants named in the case include President Tinubu, the Attorney-General, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the State Security Service, the Commandant-General of the Civil Defence Corps, and Governor Okpebholo. A hearing date has not yet been scheduled for the proceedings.
