A Federal High Court in Abuja has approved the hearing of a lawsuit seeking an order compelling President Bola Tinubu to provide maximum security for the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1648/2026, asks the court to affirm Obi’s constitutional right to life and protection from fear, discrimination, intimidation, assassination threats, harassment, and any form of victimisation, as guaranteed under Section 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
The applicants are also seeking a declaration that Obi should not be subjected to politically motivated coercion, threats to his life, bullying, assault, intimidation, or persecution by any arm of the Federal Government, state governments, or their agencies because of his political beliefs, ethnicity, religion, or any other reason.
The suit specifically cites alleged threats made by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, against Obi.
According to the applicants, the court should declare as unlawful and unconstitutional the governor’s alleged statement that Obi’s safety could not be guaranteed in Edo State and that he should not enter the state without obtaining clearance from the governor. They described the remarks as anti-democratic, illegal, and an abuse of executive power.
The legal action was instituted by lawyers Okere Kingdom Nnamdi and Joseph Enemona Amen, alongside the Incorporated Trustees of Rights For All, a non-governmental organisation, listed as the third applicant.
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The defendants in the suit are President Tinubu, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Governor Okpebholo.
The court has yet to fix a date for the hearing of the case.
