Nigerian polytechnic students, under the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), have barred Labour Party’s former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, from entering any polytechnic campus nationwide over an alleged misrepresentation of events during a recent student election at Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State.
Speaking in Abuja, NAPS President Comrade Eshiofune Paul Oghayan accused Obi of disseminating false information without proper verification, particularly his claim that students were killed during the election. In a widely circulated statement, Obi said he watched a video showing students “running for their lives as they were being shot at,” which allegedly left “two students dead and several injured.” NAPS says this claim is not only inaccurate but also dangerous and irresponsible.
Oghayan noted that despite repeated calls for a retraction and a public apology, Obi remained silent, contradicting his campaign mantra, “go and verify.” He said, “That is not leadership; it is manipulation.” Citing Obi’s continued silence and refusal to apologise, NAPS declared him persona non grata on all polytechnic campuses, mandating that he remain at least 10 kilometres away from any student community. “This is not about vengeance but accountability. Leaders must practise what they preach,” Oghayan stated. He also dismissed Obi’s claim that he was banned from Edo State by Governor Monday Okpebholo, clarifying that the governor’s action was only for standard security coordination.
Leave feedback about this