Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation of stopping him from greeting the Flamingos at Abuja airport, according to Punch Newspapers.
In a statement issued on Monday titled "A New Dimension of Toxic Politics in Nigeria," Obi said he had arrived at the airport at about 7 am that day to catch a flight to Enugu when he came across the Under-17 women's team, which had just landed from Morocco after winning the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.
According to Punch Newspapers, Obi said he asked his Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to check whether he could welcome the players, but was told the NFF had turned down the request and asked that he keep his distance. "I was informed that officials of the Nigerian Football Federation had refused and had requested that I not approach," he said in the statement.
Why it matters
The allegation places a political dispute at the centre of a national celebration. The Flamingos returned home on Monday after beating Japan 2-1 in Saturday's final in Morocco to claim their first FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup title — a win that also made Nigeria the first African nation to lift the trophy.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, framed the airport episode as part of a wider pattern. In his statement, he argued that the country's political climate has worsened since 2025 and that party differences are increasingly being allowed to shape ordinary human interactions.
A second incident recalled from Uyo
Obi said the airport incident was not the first time he had been kept away from Nigerian footballers. He recalled an earlier episode on March 25, 2025, during a World Cup qualifier in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
According to Punch Newspapers, Obi said the state governor had welcomed him at the VIP stand, but after the match he was prevented from greeting the players even as other government officials went to do so. He said officials told him they would lose their jobs if he went ahead.
"It is deeply troubling to witness the extent of toxic politics into which our nation has descended since 2025," Obi said in the statement. "Each year appears to bring further deterioration. This reflects how deeply Nigeria has been affected."
He called for a country in which political differences do not lead to hostility or discrimination, saying "unity, mutual respect, and our shared humanity" should come before party loyalty.
NFF yet to respond
As of the time Punch Newspapers filed its report, the NFF had not publicly commented on Obi's claim. The federation has not confirmed or denied that its officials blocked him, and no account from the NFF or from airport authorities has been made public.
The Flamingos' arrival in Abuja on Monday followed a tournament run that ended with victory over Japan in the final. The team's triumph has been widely celebrated as a landmark for Nigerian and African youth football.
What to watch: whether the NFF issues a public response to Obi's allegation, and whether the dispute draws comment from sports authorities as the Flamingos' title win continues to be marked at home.
