ByRita Amaechi
National News
The Federal High Court in Abuja has agreed to hear a suit seeking to compel President Bola Tinubu to provide maximum security for the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1648/2026, seeks several declarations from the court, including that Obi has the fundamental right to life and the right to live without fear, discrimination, threats of assassination, intimidation or any form of harassment, as guaranteed under Section 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
The applicants are also asking the court to declare that Obi must not be subjected to politically motivated coercion, threats to his life, bullying, harassment, assault, intimidation or victimisation by any arm of the Federal Government, its agencies, state governments or any individual acting on their behalf. They argued that such actions would violate his constitutional rights regardless of his political ideology, ethnicity or religion.
Central to the suit are alleged remarks made by Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, concerning Obi’s safety in the state. The applicants urged the court to declare that the governor’s alleged statement that Obi’s life and security could not be guaranteed in Edo State, and that he should not enter the state without obtaining clearance from him, was unlawful, unconstitutional and inconsistent with democratic principles.
They further contended that the alleged remarks amounted to executive recklessness, political intimidation and an abuse of power capable of undermining the constitutional rights of opposition politicians and threatening Nigeria’s democratic system.
The legal action was instituted by two lawyers, Mr Okere Kingdom Nnamdi and Mr Joseph Enemona Amen, alongside the Incorporated Trustees of Rights For All, a non-governmental organisation listed as the third applicant in the case.
Aside from President Tinubu, those named as defendants include the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Governor Okpebholo of Edo State.
The applicants are asking the court to order the relevant authorities to ensure adequate security for Obi before, during and after the 2027 electioneering period, while also seeking judicial affirmation of his constitutional rights to move freely and participate in the democratic process without intimidation or fear.
No date has yet been fixed by the Federal High Court for the hearing of the matter.
