Keyamo: Obi refused to pay fine after violating airport parking rules

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN, has demanded a public apology from the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, over claims that his vehicle was unfairly clamped at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The Minister while clarifying the incident insisted that CCTV footage belied Obi’s allegations of political […]

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN, has demanded a public apology from the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, over claims that his vehicle was unfairly clamped at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The Minister while clarifying the incident insisted that CCTV footage belied Obi’s allegations of political persecution.

Recall that Obi in an interview on With Chude, hosted by media personality Chude Jideonwo said he’s being attacked unfairly just like other opposition members citing an incident at the airport where his vehicle tyres were allegedly wrongly clamped.

He said, “They are attacking everybody who is in opposition personally. I am being attacked personally. Everything. Even to provide me with necessary things that I should have been entitled to, not at all,” he said.

“I had a case recently at the airport, where people who work in the airport came and locked my car. And I said, ‘It’s me.’ The person in charge said he doesn’t care.

“But I said, ‘Look at the cars of other people.’ And you could see them talking to each other, as if, ‘Who is this one?’”

But in a statement posted on his X handle on Friday with the CCTV footage attached, Keyamo said he ordered an internal investigation after Obi alleged that officials at the airport targeted him by clamping the tyres of his vehicle as part of a “persecution agenda” by the Federal Government.

According to the minister, CCTV footage from the airport showed that Obi arrived at the domestic terminal at about 8:28 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2026, in a vehicle driven by a police officer.

He said after dropping Obi and two other occupants, the police driver parked the vehicle in the designated drop-off zone, left it unattended and entered the terminal building.

Keyamo explained that although vehicles are permitted to stop briefly in the area, drivers are required to remain behind the steering wheel while waiting.

“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,” he said.

According to him, the police officer briefly returned to the vehicle to collect an item before leaving it unattended again, prompting airport security personnel to clamp the tyres.

The minister rejected Obi’s claim that officials deliberately targeted him, saying no one was inside the vehicle when it was immobilised and airport personnel were unaware that it belonged to the former Anambra State governor.

He added, “When the policeman returned and discovered the tyres were clamped, he was directed to an office where he called Mr. Peter Obi and handed the phone to the manager. Mr. Peter Obi then introduced himself, spoke with the manager, and requested the release of the vehicle. His vehicle was subsequently released without payment of the prescribed fine.”

He added that the vehicle remained unattended in the restricted drop-off zone for about 30 minutes, describing the situation as a significant airport security risk that violated international best practices.

The minister accused Obi of attempting to exploit the incident for political gain by portraying himself as a victim of government persecution.

“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.

He further dismissed Obi’s reported claim that other vehicles also violated the parking rules on the same day, describing the assertion as false.

As a result, Keyamo demanded that Obi issue an unreserved public apology to airport personnel, whom he said were merely carrying out their lawful duties.

He also asked the presidential candidate to voluntarily return to the airport and pay the N25,000 fine prescribed for wrongful parking, alleging that Obi had used his influence to secure the release of the vehicle without paying the penalty.

“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 said.