The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, demanding a public apology to airport officials and payment of a ₦25,000 fine over an alleged violation of parking regulations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

In a statement released on Friday, Keyamo said an internal investigation, supported by CCTV footage, showed that Obi’s claims of political persecution following the clamping of his vehicle were unfounded.

According to the minister, the incident occurred on July 4 when Obi arrived at the airport’s domestic terminal at approximately 8:28 p.m.

He explained that after Obi alighted from the vehicle, his police driver left the car unattended in a designated drop-off area and proceeded into the terminal, contrary to airport regulations.

Keyamo stated that although the driver briefly returned to the vehicle, he abandoned it again, prompting airport security personnel to clamp its tyres in line with established procedures.

He maintained that officials enforcing the regulations were unaware that the vehicle belonged to the former Anambra State governor.

The minister further disclosed that after discovering the vehicle had been clamped, the driver contacted Obi, who subsequently spoke with the airport manager and requested that the vehicle be released.

According to Keyamo, airport authorities released the vehicle without collecting the prescribed ₦25,000 penalty.

He stressed that leaving a vehicle unattended in a restricted airport zone for about 30 minutes constituted a serious security risk and violated internationally accepted aviation safety standards.

The minister accused Obi of attempting to politicise a routine enforcement action by portraying it as targeted persecution, insisting that the matter had already been resolved before the former governor made it public.

Keyamo called on Obi to tender an unreserved public apology to airport personnel, whom he described as officials carrying out their lawful responsibilities, and to voluntarily pay the outstanding parking fine.

He warned that should Obi fail to comply within seven days, he would direct the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take appropriate action in accordance with the law.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has dismissed Works Minister Dave Umahi’s invitation to a public debate, insisting that presidential debates are reserved for those contesting the nation’s highest office.

Obi made the remarks during an interview with media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo while responding to Umahi’s challenge following his criticism of the condition of some federal roads.

According to the former Anambra State governor, the issue had already achieved its intended objective, as the government had begun repairing the road he complained about.

“First of all, I already started the debate by standing on that road and saying the road was bad. The only reply should have been that the road was good. But I thank him because he is now repairing the road, so the debate is closed. There is nothing else to debate.”

Obi argued that if Umahi wished to debate him in the capacity of a presidential candidate, he must first secure that status.

“If he is inviting me to a debate as a presidential candidate, then he has to become a presidential candidate first.”

Drawing a comparison with international football, Obi said it would be inappropriate for someone who had not qualified for a competition to challenge participants already in the tournament.

“The World Cup is going on now. You cannot stay outside and invite a team that qualified for the World Cup to come and play against you simply because you think you are good. No. There is a qualification process.”

He further maintained that presidential debates are traditionally conducted among candidates contesting for the presidency, particularly the leading contenders.

“I am a presidential candidate. Around the world, not all presidential candidates participate in debates. It is usually the leading candidates. It is like someone in Division One asking a Premier League team to play a match. No. You compete within your own level. When he becomes a presidential candidate, then he can debate with those who are in that category,” Obi added.

Former Minister of Science and Technology and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 Enugu State election, Godfrey Uche Nnaji, is expected to be arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday over alleged corruption-related offences.

The case, scheduled to come before Justice Abdulmalik Joyce, follows an investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

According to sources familiar with the matter, the anti-graft agency concluded its investigation after acting on a petition reportedly filed by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre).

The sources further disclosed that Nnaji was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after investigators alleged that he repeatedly failed to honour invitations issued by the commission.

“The ICPC lead investigator has assured of a watertight case against the former minister,” a source said.

Earlier, the ICPC confirmed that the former minister was arrested on July 1, 2026, following the execution of a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court.

In a statement signed by its Head of Media and Public Communications, J. Okor Odey, the commission said the arrest was carried out with the support of the Department of State Services (DSS), after which Nnaji was handed over to ICPC investigators.

According to the commission, it had invited the former minister for questioning through a letter dated May 15, 2026, which was delivered to his known addresses in Abuja and Enugu, as well as his email address.

However, he allegedly failed to honour the invitations.

The commission stated that his failure to appear prompted it to obtain a bench warrant from the Federal High Court in Abuja on June 11, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026.

The ICPC said its investigation centres on allegations of forgery involving academic and national service credentials, including an alleged forged degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and an alleged false National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate reportedly submitted during his ministerial screening in 2023.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged the Federal Government to shift its focus from celebrating rescue operations to preventing kidnappings, insisting that the true measure of success in the fight against insecurity is ensuring that Nigerians can live without fear.

In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party welcomed the rescue of pupils, teachers and other victims abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after spending 56 days in captivity.

“We commend the security agencies and all those whose efforts made this rescue possible. Above all, we rejoice with the families whose long and traumatic wait has finally come to an end,” Abdullahi said.

While applauding the security agencies for the successful operation, the ADC stressed that the plight of other abductees still in captivity should receive equal attention.

“The pupils abducted in Borno State in May this year remain in captivity, while more than 100 people kidnapped in Kaiama, Kwara State, are still being held by their abductors several months later. We believe their suffering deserves the same urgency, determination, and national attention that helped secure the freedom of the Oriire victims,” the statement added.

The party argued that Nigeria should not evaluate progress against insecurity based solely on the number of successful rescue missions.

“We must not become accustomed to measuring success by the number of rescue operations conducted. The true measure of success is whether parents across Nigeria can send their children to school without fear, whether travellers can use our roads without anxiety, and whether ordinary Nigerians can go about their daily lives free from the constant threat of violent criminals,” the ADC stated.

The opposition party further maintained that the persistent wave of kidnappings continues to undermine public confidence, discourage investment and hinder economic growth.

“Under the Tinubu administration, insecurity has become an accepted part of everyday life for too many Nigerians. This is unacceptable. We cannot achieve meaningful economic growth, attract investment, or build public confidence while kidnapping remains a recurring feature of national life,” Abdullahi added.

The ADC called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts toward securing the release of all Nigerians still in captivity, urging security agencies to deploy the same level of commitment that led to the rescue of the Oriire victims.

“Every life matters equally. No victim should be forgotten simply because they are voiceless or lack influential advocates to keep their plight in the national spotlight,” the party said.

It also urged the government to adopt a proactive security strategy by strengthening intelligence gathering, improving inter-agency collaboration and restoring effective security presence in vulnerable communities across the country.

According to the party, although the rescue of the Oriire victims is commendable, the fight against kidnapping cannot be considered successful until every abducted Nigerian regains freedom.

Former Kano State Governor and 2027 vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has urged the Federal Government to conduct a credible, transparent and technology-driven national population and housing census without further delay.

Kwankwaso made the appeal on Saturday in a message posted on his X account to mark the 2026 World Population Day, expressing concern over Nigeria’s failure to conduct a national census in the last two decades.

According to him, the country’s continued reliance on population figures from the 2006 census has negatively affected planning, governance and decision-making across critical sectors.

“It is deeply concerning that our nation has not conducted a national population and housing census in two decades. The last exercise, held in 2006, has left us relying on outdated population figures for critical national decisions on education, healthcare, security, infrastructure, employment, and resource allocation.

“This data vacuum undermines effective planning and equitable development.”

“Accurate, up-to-date population statistics are the bedrock of good governance, national security, sustainable development, and inclusive growth. We cannot continue to shape the future of an estimated over 200 million Nigerians using statistics frozen in time,” Kwankwaso said.

The former governor noted that reliable demographic data is essential for effective governance, national security, infrastructure development, healthcare delivery, education planning, job creation and equitable distribution of resources.

He warned that the absence of current population statistics continues to hamper evidence-based policymaking and national development efforts.

Calling for urgent action, Kwankwaso urged the Federal Government to make the long-delayed census a national priority, insisting that modern technology should be deployed to ensure transparency, accuracy and public confidence in the exercise.

“On this World Population Day, I strongly urge the Federal Government to prioritise and conduct a credible, transparent and technology-driven National Population and Housing Census without further delay. The time for excuses is over. The time to act is now,” he added.

Nigeria has not conducted an official national population and housing census since 2006, with several planned exercises postponed over the years due to funding constraints, logistical challenges and other administrative considerations.