Two close associates of the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have dismissed rumors of his alleged arrest as false.
According to reports, claims circulated on social media suggested that the former Anambra State governor was detained by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) on Tuesday night at his Abuja residence.
The rumors linked the supposed arrest to Obi’s recent press conference, where he addressed critical national issues such as insecurity and hunger.
However, in an interview with LEADERSHIP, Prof. Stella Okunna, a former Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning during Obi’s administration and current Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Paul University, Awka, and Dr. Valentine Obienyem, Obi’s media aide, debunked the claims. They confirmed that no security agency had detained the former governor.
The two aides clarified that Obi was at the official commissioning of the permanent site of the University of the Niger in Umuanya, Anambra State, on Tuesday.
The event, presided over by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Dr. Henry Ndukuba, had Obi as a guest of honor.
During the ceremony, Obienyem noted, Obi reiterated his dedication to supporting the institution, stating, “I will keep supporting the University of Niger.”
Reflecting on his time as governor, Obi highlighted his policy of returning mission schools to their original owners, which he said helped restore confidence in educational investments.
“The return of schools to the Church was a milestone in rebuilding our education system. It renewed the confidence of both the Catholic and Anglican communities, inspiring them to lift education to great heights and eventually establish new universities in Anambra State. These institutions have since played a significant role in advancing human capital development in the state and beyond,” Obi reportedly said.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Peter Obi himself denied the arrest rumors, confirming that he was in his hometown in Anambra State.
