A group of lawyers under the Obidient Lawyers Forum has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking enhanced security protection for Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), ahead of the 2027 general election.
The suit names President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other security agencies as respondents. The applicants are asking the court to compel the authorities to provide Obi with adequate protection, citing concerns over alleged threats to his life.
According to the lawyers, the application was prompted by Obi’s recent public comments suggesting he feared for his safety, as well as remarks attributed to Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo regarding security arrangements. They also referenced the 2006 assassination of Lagos governorship aspirant Funsho Williams, arguing that preventive measures are necessary to avoid a repeat of such a tragedy.
The suit seeks declarations affirming Obi’s constitutional rights to life, dignity, personal liberty and freedom of movement, alongside an order directing security agencies to guarantee his safety as he carries out political activities across the country. No hearing date has been fixed, and neither the Presidency nor the security agencies had publicly responded to the case at the time of reporting.
The development comes as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections continue to gather momentum, with debates over the safety of political actors becoming increasingly prominent. Whether the court grants the requested reliefs remains to be seen, but the case has already sparked widespread public discussion about political security, democratic participation and the responsibility of the state to protect all candidates regardless of party affiliation.
