Lagos – Fresh controversy has engulfed Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, as newly surfaced photographs appear to contradict his repeated denials of ever meeting Nigeria’s late military ruler, General Sani Abacha, before he died in 1998.
Obi has consistently maintained that he never met Abacha before a brief encounter in 1998, shortly before the dictator’s death. In a recent statement on social media, Obi wrote: “As I stated during my interview at the weekend and consistently maintained in the past, I had never met General Sani Abacha BEFORE THAT ENCOUNTER (emphasis, mine).” He reiterated this claim during an interview on Channels Television, insisting that his only interaction with Abacha occurred during a public event in Kano.
However, newly circulated pictures allegedly show Obi in what appears to be a private meeting with the late Head of State, casting doubt on his assertions. The images, which have gone viral on social media, depict a younger Obi near Abacha, raising questions about the accuracy of his previous statements.
The emergence of these photographs has sparked heated debates online, with critics accusing Obi of dishonesty. Supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have seized on the development to question Obi’s credibility.
“If Peter Obi lied about something as basic as this, what else is he hiding?” asked a social media user. Others have demanded an explanation from the Labour Party candidate, urging him to clarify the circumstances surrounding the photographs.
As of press time, Peter Obi and his media team have not issued an official statement addressing the authenticity of the images or the implications of their release. Political analysts suggest that this development could damage Obi’s reputation as a leader who prides himself on transparency and accountability.
The controversy comes at a sensitive time, as Obi continues to challenge the outcome of the 2023 presidential election in court. Observers say this revelation could influence public perception ahead of future political engagements.
