Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, has demanded a public apology from Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), over claims that his vehicle was “unjustly” clamped at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Keyamo, who described the allegation as false, in a statement shared on his X page on Friday, further asked Obi to pay the N25,000 fine prescribed for violating airport parking regulations, warning that failure to do so within one week could lead to further action by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

The minister said he ordered an internal investigation after Obi alleged that the incident formed part of a broader campaign of political persecution against him.

According to Keyamo, CCTV footage from the airport showed that Mr Obi’s vehicle was parked unattended for about 30 minutes in a designated drop-off zone, contrary to airport regulations.

“Politics aside, every Nigerian is entitled to fair treatment under the law,” the minister said.

He added that, “I therefore instituted an internal inquiry over the issue.”

Keyamo said the footage showed that Obi arrived at the airport on 4 July at about 8:28 p.m. and entered the terminal with two other occupants after alighting from the vehicle, which was being driven by a police officer.

According to him, the police officer also left the vehicle unattended after briefly returning to collect an item, prompting airport security personnel to clamp its tyres.

He said the officials were unaware the vehicle belonged to Mr Obi when they carried out the enforcement action.

The minister further alleged that after discovering the vehicle had been clamped, the police officer contacted Obi by telephone and handed the phone to an airport manager.

Keyamo claimed Mr Obi identified himself and requested the release of the vehicle, which was eventually released without payment of the prescribed fine.

He argued that leaving a vehicle unattended in a drop-off zone constitutes a security risk, particularly at an international airport.

“What has emerged from this is a clear case of an opposition candidate trying to whip up unnecessary sentiments for a wrong he committed with his driver,” Mr Keyamo said.

He dismissed Mr Obi’s claim that other improperly parked vehicles were ignored, describing the allegation as false.

The minister then said Obi should publicly apologise to airport personnel whom he accused of persecuting him while carrying out their lawful duties.

He also asked the former Anambra governor to return to the airport voluntarily and pay the N25,000 penalty for wrongful parking.

“If these demands are not met within one week, I will be giving the necessary directives to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to take the next steps against him,” Mr Keyamo said.

It would be recalled that Obi, during an appearance on the With Chude podcast last week, alleged that he might not survive to contest the 2027 presidential election, citing what he described as a pattern of harassment against him and his associates.

Among the incidents he referenced was the airport episode, where he claimed his vehicle was clamped while other vehicles parked in the same area were left untouched. He also alleged that some of his associates had become reluctant to publicly associate with him for fear of government reprisal.

The Presidency rejected the allegations, with President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, saying the airport incident stemmed from a breach of parking regulations rather than any act of political persecution.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Friday met with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja shortly after he was retained as the All Progressives Congress (APC) vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

Shettima reportedly visited the president to express appreciation for retaining him as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election.

Shettima’s retention ended weeks of speculation over whether the vice-president would remain on the APC ticket for the next general election.

The party’s decision to retain the Tinubu-Shettima ticket means it will head into the 2027 election with the same presidential team that secured victory in the 2023 poll.

Earlier on Friday, Sunday Dare, special adviser to the president on public communications and orientation, announced that Tinubu had submitted his presidential nomination form to the APC national working committee (NWC).

In a post on his X handle, Dare said Tinubu emerged as the party’s sole presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted his nomination form to the APC NWC as our sole presidential candidate for 2027.  He has retained Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate,” Dare wrote.

Tinubu and Shettima’s nomination forms were presented to Nentawe Yilwatda, APC national chairman, by Ibrahim Masari, the president’s special adviser on political and other matters, at the Continental Hotel in Abuja.

The ceremony was attended by Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo and chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, APC governors, members of the party’s national working committee (NWC), the APC caucus in the national assembly, members of the federal executive council (FEC), and other party leaders and stakeholders.

1. The Nigerian Army has revealed how troops, working with other security agencies, rescued pupils and teachers abducted by suspected Ansaru terrorists in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after 56 days in captivity. The Army said the victims regained their freedom following an intelligence-led operation that lasted for more than a month and targeted the kidnappers’ network and hideouts in the Old Oyo National Park and other parts of the country.

According to a statement issued hours after the rescue on Friday by the Acting Deputy Director, 2 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Danjuma Danjuma, the operation involved troops of the Nigerian Army led by the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Maj. Gen. Chinedu Nnebeife

2. Tokyo police have arrested a 53-year-old Nigerian, Nwadiukwu Ikenna, on suspicion of persistent touting in the Japanese capital’s Kabukicho nightlife district. According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department on Friday, Ikenna allegedly approached a passer-by and grabbed the individual by the left hand on a street in the district during the early hours of Thursday, July 9, 2026

3. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN, has demanded a public apology from the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, over claims that his vehicle was unfairly clamped at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The Minister while clarifying the incident insisted that CCTV footage belied Obi’s allegations of political persecution.

4. A Federal High Court in Abuja has again rescheduled its planned judgment in the suit by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for the final forfeiture of about 57 properties allegedly acquired unlawfully by a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), to July 15. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik had earlier fixed the judgment for July 6 after taking final arguments and submissions from lawyers for the parties in the case.

5. Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers on Friday presented the 2026 appropriation bill of N1.85 trillion to the Rivers State House of Assembly. The bill, tagged ”Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development.” Fubara said that the proposed total operating revenue for 2026 was projected to increase by 24.49 per cent over the 2025 adjusted budget projections.

6. Three Mexican nationals and seven other suspects have been remanded in prison by a Federal High Court in Lagos. The defendants, including a 63-year-old alleged drug baron, Anochili Innocent, were arraigned before Justice Musa Kakaki on Friday on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful production and possession of methamphetamine valued at N480bn, operation of a drug trafficking organisation and unlawful possession of precursor chemicals.

7. Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, in the early hours of Friday, repelled an attempted infiltration by Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists into three communities near Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. The acting Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammad Goni, said in a statement that the affected communities were Muna Garage, Shuwari Village and the Ajilari Cross area.

8. The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday affirmed the powers of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to investigate consumer complaints over airline ticket pricing, ruling that the commission’s authority to conduct investigations is distinct from its statutory power to regulate or fix prices.

9. The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned the Group Managing Director of Brass Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited, Egwuche Gladys, for alleged abuse of office and embezzlement of public funds to the tune of $600,000 (N827 million). This was disclosed in a statement posted by the EFCC on its X page on Friday, adding that Gladys was arraigned alongside the firm on a 12-count charge before Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court at Independence Layout, Enugu State

10. President Bola Tinubu has expressed joy over the successful rescue of the pupils and teachers abducted from Oriire community in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. Tinubu commended the military, the Department of State Services, DSS and the Nigeria Police for securing the victims’ release after 56 days in captivity. The commendation is in a statement issued by the Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Friday in Abuja.