Security Risk: Keyamo Gives Peter Obi Seven‑Day Ultimatum

A fresh political confrontation has emerged between the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, after an airport parking incident escalated into a national debate over enforcement, accountability, and political narrative.

ValidViewNetwork reports that Keyamo has issued a seven‑day ultimatum demanding that Obi publicly apologise to airport officials and pay a N25,000 fine for allegedly violating parking regulations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the minister insisted that CCTV footage and an internal investigation contradicted Obi’s claim that his vehicle was unjustly clamped as part of political persecution.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the incident occurred on July 4 when Obi arrived at the airport’s domestic terminal at about 8:28pm. According to Keyamo, Obi’s police driver parked in a designated drop‑off zone, left the vehicle unattended, and entered the terminal, contrary to airport regulations. The minister said the driver briefly returned before leaving the vehicle unattended again, prompting airport security personnel to clamp its tyres.

Keyamo maintained that airport officials had no knowledge the vehicle belonged to Obi when they carried out the enforcement action, ValidViewNetwork reports.

He further alleged that when the driver discovered the clamp, he contacted Obi, who then spoke with the airport manager and requested the vehicle’s release.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the vehicle was released without payment of the prescribed N25,000 penalty. The minister argued that leaving a vehicle unattended in a restricted airport zone for about 30 minutes posed a significant security risk and violated global aviation safety standards. He accused Obi of attempting to gain political sympathy by portraying the enforcement action as persecution and insisted that the matter had already been resolved before Obi made public comments alleging unfair treatment.

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Keyamo demanded that Obi issue an unreserved public apology to airport workers, whom he said were merely carrying out their lawful duties, and voluntarily return to pay the parking fine. He warned that if Obi failed to comply within one week, he would direct the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to take further action.

In a political climate where routine enforcement can quickly transform into national controversy, this clash has intensified public debate over accountability, political communication, and the boundaries between governance and perception.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the ultimatum now places Obi under pressure to either comply or challenge the minister’s claims, signalling yet another moment where Nigeria’s political actors must navigate the fine line between public narrative and institutional responsibility.