The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has accused the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of violating airport parking regulations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and directed him to pay a ₦25,000 fine or face further action.
In a statement issued on Friday, Keyamo said he ordered an internal investigation after Obi alleged that his vehicle was unjustly clamped at the airport as part of what he described as a campaign of political persecution by the Federal Government.
According to the minister, the investigation, supported by CCTV footage from the airport, established that Obi’s vehicle was improperly parked in a designated drop-off zone and left unattended for about 30 minutes, creating what he described as a security risk.
Keyamo said Obi arrived at the domestic terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at about 8:28 p.m., accompanied by two other occupants and driven by a police officer. After dropping off the passengers, the police driver allegedly parked the vehicle close to the terminal entrance before leaving it unattended to enter the terminal building.
The minister explained that airport regulations require drivers to remain inside their vehicles while in the drop-off zone, noting that the vehicle was initially not clamped despite the violation.
According to the statement, the police driver later returned briefly to retrieve an item from the vehicle before leaving it unattended again, prompting airport security personnel to clamp its tyres.
Keyamo maintained that the airport officials acted in accordance with established procedures and were unaware that the vehicle belonged to Obi at the time it was clamped.
He further alleged that after discovering the vehicle had been clamped, the police driver contacted Obi by phone and handed the device to the airport manager.
According to the minister, Obi identified himself during the call and requested the release of the vehicle, which was subsequently released without payment of the prescribed fine.
Keyamo accused the former Anambra State governor of attempting to portray the incident as political persecution, insisting that the CCTV footage contradicted Obi’s account.
He also dismissed Obi’s reported claim that other motorists committed similar parking violations on the same day, saying the investigation found no evidence to support the assertion.
The minister said the matter had already been resolved internally before Obi raised it publicly, accusing him of presenting what he described as a false narrative to attract public sympathy.
Consequently, Keyamo demanded that Obi issue an unreserved public apology to airport personnel whom he said were unfairly accused of victimisation while carrying out their lawful duties.
He also directed Obi to voluntarily return to the airport within one week to pay the ₦25,000 fine for wrongful parking.
Keyamo warned that if the former Labour Party presidential candidate fails to comply with the demands within the stipulated period, he would direct the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take further action against him.
