Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has released CCTV footage of the incident involving former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, insisting that the footage contradicts Obi’s earlier claims that his vehicle was unfairly targeted and clamped.
According to the minister, the CCTV footage showed that Obi’s official vehicle arrived at the airport before his police driver parked in a restricted drop-off zone and left it unattended, contrary to airport regulations.
The vehicle was later clamped by airport officials in line with standard enforcement procedures after it was deemed to have violated parking protocols.
Keyamo stated that airport security personnel acted in accordance with established operational guidelines and were unaware that the vehicle belonged to Peter Obi when they carried out the enforcement action.
He maintained that the decision to clamp the vehicle was based solely on a breach of airport parking regulations and not on the identity of its owner.
The minister further alleged that after discovering the vehicle had been clamped, Obi contacted airport authorities directly, leading to the removal of the clamp without payment of the prescribed ₦25,000 penalty.
He argued that leaving a vehicle unattended within a sensitive airport environment constitutes a security concern and should not be treated differently because of the status of the vehicle’s owner.
The development follows Obi’s earlier allegation that the clamping of his vehicle formed part of a pattern of intimidation against him.
However, the release of the CCTV footage has sparked widespread debate, with supporters of the former Anambra State governor questioning the interpretation of the footage, while others argue that it supports the position of the aviation authorities.
The incident has generated mixed reactions across the country, with many Nigerians calling for strict and equal enforcement of airport regulations regardless of political affiliation or public office. Others have urged both parties to allow the facts to speak for themselves while maintaining confidence in due process and the rule of law.
