Minister of Works David Umahi has dismissed claims by Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, that his life is under threat, describing the allegation as unfounded and politically motivated.
Speaking on Friday during an inspection of ongoing federal road projects in Ebonyi State, Umahi said there was no reason for anyone to wish Obi harm, insisting that political contests should be decided at the ballot box.
“Nobody wants Obi dead; it’s not just reasonable. We all want him alive to contest this election and watch himself lose again,” the minister said.
Umahi was responding to Peter Obi’s recent remarks alleging that he had received threats over his persistent criticism of the Federal Government. According to the minister, the former Anambra State governor’s claims stem from political frustration rather than any genuine security concern.
The former Ebonyi State governor argued that Obi still believes the South-East remains his political base because of his performance in the 2023 presidential election, which Umahi described as “an accident of history.”
He maintained that the political mood in the South-East has shifted significantly under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, citing ongoing federal infrastructure projects and appointments of South-Easterners into key government positions as factors that have strengthened public support for the President in the region.
Umahi further stated that many residents of the South-East are now backing the Tinubu administration based on what they have seen in terms of development, rather than what he described as “Artificial Intelligence (AI) kind of politics.”
Reaffirming his earlier challenge, the minister said he remains willing to engage Peter Obi in a public debate on the performance of the Tinubu administration. He noted that such a debate would focus on the government’s infrastructure achievements, economic policies, and efforts to ensure inclusiveness across all regions of the country.
The exchange adds another layer to the growing political rivalry ahead of the 2027 general elections, with both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition figures already intensifying their campaigns and public engagements.