Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s government of frustrating him, noting that he may not live to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Mr Obi, in an exclusive interview hosted by media personality Chude Jideonwo on Wednesday, said, “I might not even be alive. I’m telling you. Every single thing I do for a living, this government is frustrating it. Deliberately so. Everything. So, there is even a possibility, if they have the opportunity, I will not be alive.

“Because you do thing that is normal but it’s not normal any longer. They won’t come for you directly but you could see thier hands in everything. They’re attacking everyone in the opposition. Even to provide necessary things I should be entitled to.”

Mr Obi claimed that acquaintances now avoid him in public out of fear of retribution, vowing to restore unity and compassion among Nigerians should he become president.

“I have people send me invitations and say, ‘My son, my daughter is getting married, but please don’t come. We have divided the country, breeding hatred among the people. I want to show unity where there is division. I want to show love and care,” the NDC chieftain added.

This development was not the first time Mr Obi would accuse Tinubu’s regime of persecution, including the crippling of his businesses.

Last year, the former governor, who ran for president against Mr Tinubu in the 2023 fiercely contested presidential poll, accused the ruling government of hounding people sympathetic to his course into submission.

Meanwhile, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on X, described the former Anambra governor as a “pathological liar”.

“Peter Obi’s claim that he may not be alive for the January 2027 election and that people are being pressured not to invite him to social events is nothing more than a fabricated narrative, a page from his book of lies and propaganda.

“These claims lack substance and are designed to attract undue sympathy and deflect attention from his credibility deficit and the problems faced by his SPV and his adopted political association, the NDC,” Mr Onanuga stated.