The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has asked presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to publicly apologise to airport officials and pay a N25,000 fine over an alleged wrongful parking incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The minister said Obi’s vehicle violated airport regulations after it was left unattended in a prohibited drop-off zone for about 30 minutes, posing what he described as a security risk.

Keyamo made the demand in a statement issued on Friday, following Obi’s recent interview with Chude Jideonwo in which the former Anambra State governor alleged that his vehicle was unfairly clamped despite other cars being parked in the same area.

Obi had also claimed that some airport workers now avoid greeting him because they fear being targeted by the government.

Responding, Keyamo dismissed the allegation, insisting that Obi’s driver breached airport regulations by abandoning the vehicle in the drop-off zone.

According to the minister, airport rules permit temporary parking in the drop-off area only if the driver remains inside the vehicle.

He said once all occupants, including the driver, left the vehicle, it became a security concern in line with international aviation standards.

“As the Minister of Aviation, I felt a moral duty to investigate and authenticate the claim made by opposition candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, a few days ago that the tyres of his car were ‘unjustly’ clamped at the airport, suggesting a ‘persecution agenda’ against him by the Federal Government. Politics aside, every Nigerian is entitled to fair treatment under the law,” Keyamo said.

“I therefore instituted an internal inquiry over the issue. Luckily enough, the entire Abuja airport is covered by CCTV cameras, real-time, 24/7. But apparently, this fact was unknown to Mr. Peter Obi. Otherwise, perhaps he would have been more circumspect before rushing to the media to cry ‘persecution’.”

Giving details of the incident, Keyamo said Obi arrived at the domestic terminal of the Abuja airport at about 8:28 p.m. on July 4, 2026, in a vehicle driven by a police officer.

He said Obi and two other passengers immediately entered the terminal building, while the police driver parked the vehicle close to the entrance before also leaving it unattended.

According to the minister, the driver briefly returned to the vehicle to retrieve an item before leaving again, after which airport security officials clamped the tyres.

“The Police driver then parked the vehicle, almost blocking the entrance and came out himself and went into the terminal building too. The airport rule is that, apart from the fact that it is a drop-off zone, a driver must remain behind the wheels of the vehicle for it to be tolerated for some time within that zone. Still the vehicle tyres were not clamped.

“The Policeman came back to the vehicle at about 20:32pm and collected something from the vehicle and went back into the building again, leaving the vehicle unattended to.

“At this point, the dutiful airport security staff came over and clamped the tyres of the car. In doing this, contrary to the claims by Peter Obi, nobody was inside the car and so nobody knew whether it was his car (not that it should matter, anyway).

“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. 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.

“It is important to note that the time the vehicle was parked unattended to in that prohibited zone was about 30 minutes, which constitutes a security risk at an airport by global best practices.”

The minister also rejected Obi’s claim that several other vehicles were similarly parked, describing the allegation as false and unworthy of someone seeking Nigeria’s highest office.

“What has emerged from this is a clear case of an opposition candidate trying to whip up unnecessary sentiments for a wrong he committed with his driver,” Keyamo said.

“The excuse which Mr. Peter Obi gave that there were other offenders too on that day (which is completely false) cannot be an excuse for an individual aspiring to be President of Nigeria. He must live above board.

“This is a matter that was not even mentioned at all by the airport authorities and had been put to rest. But ever determined to milk any situation to score cheap political points, Mr. Peter Obi decided to go on air to render a false narrative.”

Keyamo said CCTV footage supports the ministry’s findings and insisted that Obi should be held accountable.

“Therefore, he must also face the consequences of his actions. (I have attached the CCTV footages to this statement for the public to clearly see what transpired.),” he said.

“In the circumstances, consistent with the principle of equality before the law, as Minister of Aviation, I make the following demands on Mr. Peter Obi:

“That he tenders an unreserved, public apology to those hardworking, ordinary Nigerian workers at the airport, just doing their jobs dutifully and whom he sought to blackmail as his ‘persecutors’.

“That Mr. Peter Obi voluntarily goes back to the airport and pay the appropriate fine of N25,000 for wrongful parking at the airport for which he used ‘influence peddling’ to bully his way out on that day. He cannot be bigger than the law.”

The minister warned that if Obi fails to comply within one week, he will direct the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take further action.

The post Keyamo Asks Obi To Apologise, Pay N25,000 Fine For Wrongful Parking At Abuja Airport appeared first on OsunDefender.

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