FCT Police clarify viral video of Peter Obi addressing officers in Abuja
Nigerian Police Clarifies Viral Video Involving Peter Obi
The Nigerian Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has addressed a viral video featuring Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), speaking to police officers in Abuja.
The video, which circulated widely on social media, depicts Obi commending the officers for their service and expressing concerns for their welfare and the future of their families. In his remarks, Obi stated, “We want to bring you something better when we will be talking about your welfare, the future of your children, and that is everybody. It’s not correct to bring you out just because of party issues.”
In a statement issued on Monday, SP Josephine Adeh, Police Public Relations Officer for the FCT Command, emphasized that the video has been manipulated. She indicated that it included political campaign materials and misleading captions, suggesting a political endorsement from the police.
“The misrepresentation is entirely false and does not reflect the true facts of the incident,” Adeh noted. She further explained that the meeting between Obi and the officers took place in 2024 following a distress call regarding unrest tied to a leadership dispute at the Labour Party Headquarters in the Utako area of the FCT.
“Personnel of the FCT Police Command were quickly deployed to the scene to restore order. During this operation, Mr. Peter Obi, who was present, briefly addressed the officers, clarifying the situation surrounding the party dispute,” Adeh said.
The police spokesperson reiterated that the interaction was incidental to their response efforts and carried no political implications, contrary to the narrative suggested in the viral video.