Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has made serious allegations against Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate. Ganduje accuses Obi of libel and of encouraging his followers to threaten the life of APC spokesman Felix Morka.
Ganduje claims that Obi has misrepresented the facts by alleging that Morka threatened him and his family during a recent interview.
Obi’s allegations stem from a New Year’s Day critique of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, where he questioned whether he had “really crossed the line” following threats he claims to have received from Morka.
The situation escalated after Morka stated, “Peter Obi has crossed the line so many times, and he has what’s coming to him. Whatever he gets, he should manage it,” during an interview.
In his defense, Morka argued that Obi had taken his comments out of context, stressing that he never threatened Obi’s life and urged the former Anambra State governor to correct the record.
Ganduje criticized Obi’s accusations as “unfortunate” and “misleading,” declaring them to be malicious and entirely false. He stated that such claims would have been ignored if not for the imperative to counter a baseless narrative.
According to Ganduje, “By falsely claiming that Morka threatened his life, Mr. Obi has libeled Morka in the extreme and incited his online supporters to issue death threats against Morka and his family.”
He underscored that, as a public figure, Obi has a duty to disseminate accurate information, warning that spreading falsehoods undermines public trust.
Ganduje pointed out that Morka was merely fulfilling his responsibilities as the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, which includes holding opposition figures accountable for their statements, a fundamental aspect of democracy.
He added, “Morka’s comments during the interview were solely in response to a query about ‘prophets of doom’ and ‘voodoo economics.’ There was nothing in his statement that constituted or implied a threat to Obi or anyone else.”
Furthermore, Ganduje highlighted the significance of free speech, a right enshrined in Nigeria’s Constitution that applies to all citizens, including members of the ruling party.
He urged Obi to avoid spreading misinformation and to accept criticism as part of the democratic discourse.
“Does Mr. Obi expect the APC to remain passive while the opposition spreads falsehoods without a rebuttal?” Ganduje questioned.
He cautioned that the APC would continue to confront unfounded allegations with factual information regarding the Tinubu-led administration.
Ganduje reaffirmed the party’s commitment to upholding democratic values while holding opposition figures accountable when necessary.
‘Liar, you incited followers to threaten Felix Morka’s life’ – Ganduje replies Peter Obi
