A collective known as the Obidient Lawyers Forum has petitioned the Federal High Court in Abuja to mandate that President Bola Tinubu direct the police, the DSS, and other security arms to provide specialized protection for Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate for the Nigerian Democratic Congress. The legal team argues that this intervention is necessary to prevent potential political violence against the candidate during the lead-up to the general election.
Filed under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1648/2026, the suit names the President, the Attorney-General, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the DSS, and Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo as respondents. The legal action follows comments made by Governor Okpebholo, who claimed that Obi’s safety could not be assured in Edo State without prior approval from the governor.
Represented by Okere Kingdom Nnamdi and Joseph Enemona Ameh, the lawyers seek a court declaration affirming Obi’s constitutional right to freedom of movement and his fundamental right to life, free from intimidation, harassment, or threats. They contend that the Governor’s remarks are unlawful and represent an overreach of executive power. Furthermore, the suit demands that the President and security agencies fulfill their constitutional duty to protect all presidential candidates, ensuring they can conduct political campaigns without fear of harm or victimization. No hearing date has been scheduled for the case.
