Obidient lawyers sue President, AGF, IGP, DSS, demand special protection for Obi

The Presidency has dismissed criticism by the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, over the performance of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, insisting that the administration’s policies are delivering measurable results across the country.

Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, made the remarks in a post on his X handle yesterday, where he faulted Obi’s assessment of the Tinubu administration during an interview on Channels Television on Sunday, describing it as detached from realities on the ground.

According to Onanuga, the impact of the administration’s programmes is evident in communities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

“Obi needs to get off the high of his rabid movement. The unmistakable trail of Renewed Hope shimmers across all villages, towns, cities, and local council areas in all six geopolitical zones,” he wrote.

The presidential aide disclosed that members of the Presidential Communications Team had been touring different parts of the country to independently evaluate the implementation of government policies and obtain feedback from citizens.

He also maintained that there was ample evidence of the administration’s economic reforms and development initiatives, saying reports documenting the government’s achievements were readily available.

MEANWHILE, lawyers operating under the aegis of the Obidient Lawyers Forum have demanded that the Federal High Court in Abuja should order President Bola Tinubu to compel the Police, Department of State Services (DSS) and others to give special protection to the Presidential candidate of the NDC, Obi, ahead of the 2027 election.

The legal practitioners informed the court that their appeal has become imperative so as not to make Obi a victim of political assassination before and during the 2027 general electioneering process.

The request was contained in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1648/2016, instituted against Tinubu, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Inspector General (IG) of Police, Director-General, DSS, and the Governor of Edo State.

Plaintiffs in the suit, which was filed yesterday, predicated their request on a statement credited to Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, to the effect that Obi’s life and security would not be guaranteed in Edo State if he enters the state without getting approval from the governor.

The Obidient lawyers, represented by Okere Kingdom Nnamdi and Joseph Enemona Ameh, instituted the fundamental rights suit on behalf of Obi, in which they prayed the court to issue an order that Obi has fundamental rights to freedom of movement without any hindrance.

Among other reliefs, they asked the court to declare that Obi, the 2027 Presidential Candidate of the NDC, has the fundamental right to life and right to live without any fear, discrimination, threat of assassination, intimidation or any form of harassment whatsoever, as guaranteed in section 33 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.

In addition, they urged the court to declare that Obi must not be subjected to politically motivated coercion, threat to life, bullying, harassment, assault, intimidation and victimisation whatsoever, by any arm of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, or any authority, person, individual or groups, agents/agencies of the Federal Government or government of any sub-regional state, on the grounds of his political ideology, ethnicity and religion, or for any reason whatsoever.