Peter Obi’s media office has accused unnamed actors of a “clandestine move” to block the Labour Party presidential aspirant from speaking at public universities, citing over 10 cancelled invitations in recent months.
The Peter Obi Media Reach, POMR, said in a statement Monday that the cancellations point to “a deepening democratic malaise” and “external political pressures and intimidation” on campuses.
POMR pointed to the recent cancellation of Obi’s lecture at Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, and “similar incidents” at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN — Obi’s alma mater — and other public institutions.
“This incident follows a disturbing pattern occurring over 10 times in recent months — where public institutions… have revoked platforms for the presidential aspirant at the eleventh hour,” the statement said.
The media office argued that universities are “intended to be sanctuaries for critical thinking, rigorous debate, and the free exchange of perspectives,” but are now “succumbing to external political pressures.”
Quoting Obi, POMR said: “Such occurrences now point to a troubling pattern that should concern all well-meaning Nigerians.” It added: “Universities and other public institutions of learning must remain platforms where ideas can be shared freely without restriction.”
POMR contrasted Obi’s access abroad with his treatment at home: “The irony is stark that while Mr Obi has been welcomed to speak freely at notable global centres of excellence — including Oxford, Harvard, Cambridge, and Yale — within his own country, the doors of public learning are increasingly being bolted.”
It asked: “What is the state of a nation that fears the dialogue of its own citizens within its own halls of learning?”
The statement called on “administrative heads of public institutions and the relevant governing bodies to resist political intimidation and uphold the sanctity of academic freedom.”
“A country that silences its thinkers and its leaders within its ivory towers is a country that risks intellectual and social stagnation,” POMR said, signing off with Obi’s phrase: “We stand for an open Nigeria where the ‘force of argument’ always supersedes the ‘argument of force.’”
The statement was signed by POMR Spokesman Ibragim Umar, dated April 27, 2026.
No response has been issued by OAU, UNN, or the Federal Ministry of Education at press time.
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