Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has revealed that a planned visit to Obafemi Awolowo University was unexpectedly disrupted after a last-minute change of venue.
The former Anambra State governor made this known in a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), explaining that he had been scheduled to deliver a keynote lecture at the university before traveling to Ibadan for a political engagement.
According to Obi, the invitation had been extended months earlier, and all necessary arrangements had already been put in place. He stated that he was expected to address the university audience at 9:00 a.m. before proceeding to attend an opposition parties’ political summit slated for noon in Ibadan. However, he said he was later informed that the event would no longer take place at the university as originally planned.
Obi did not provide specific reasons for the sudden change, leaving uncertainty over whether the decision was influenced by administrative, political, or security considerations. The lack of clarity has since generated reactions online, with supporters and observers raising concerns about what they see as increasing limitations on political activities within academic institutions.
The cancelled lecture was anticipated to attract a large audience, including students, lecturers, and political stakeholders, particularly given Obi’s strong following among young Nigerians. His scheduled appearance at the opposition summit in Ibadan also highlights ongoing efforts by political groups to build alliances ahead of future elections.
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