Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has denied claims by Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the last general election, that he threatened his life and family over a New Year message directed at President Bola Tinubu.
Obi alleged in a social media post that Morka accused him of “crossing the line” and warned of consequences following the message.
“My New Year Message has now led to threats to my life, my family, and those around me. While I have received all sorts of messages, one Mr. Felix Morka has gone further to accuse me of ‘crossing the line’ and has warned that I will face consequences,” Obi stated in a tweet.
The accusation quickly sparked public reactions, including from Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, who accused the APC of silencing opposition voices. The Labour Party also urged President Tinubu to address Obi’s concerns and called for an inquiry into the matter.
However, in a statement released on Tuesday, Morka dismissed Obi’s allegations as unfounded. He clarified that his comments during an interview on AriseTV’s THIS WEEK program had been misinterpreted and did not constitute a threat.
“To set the record straight, I have never threatened Mr. Obi, his family, or anyone else. There is absolutely no basis for his claims,” Morka said. “The statement attributed to me was in response to specific questions raised during the interview, particularly about the criticisms labeled as ‘voodoo economics.’ My remarks were entirely within the context of that discussion.”
Morka highlighted that a key part of his comment—where he said, ‘he has crossed the line so many times and has coming to him, whatever he gets, he needs to manage it’—was neither a personal attack nor a threat but a response to Obi’s criticisms.
The APC spokesperson accused Obi of attempting to stoke public sentiment with misinformation, asserting that freedom of speech in a democracy allows all citizens to express opposing views without fear of intimidation.
He also criticized Obi’s supporters, alleging that many of them engage in online harassment and threats against those who challenge or disagree with their political views. According to Morka, such behaviour goes unchecked, as Obi has never publicly condemned the actions of his followers.
“Mr. Obi must believe himself to be beyond criticism, entitled to deride others while shielding himself from opposing views,” Morka remarked. “This entitlement undermines the principles of democracy, where every voice should have equal space to be heard.”
Morka further questioned Obi’s economic narratives, suggesting that the former presidential candidate frequently misrepresents facts in public discourse.
“As a former presidential candidate, Obi made grand economic promises. However, many of his statements are either misleading or inconsistent with the realities of governance,” he added.
Efforts to reach Morka for additional clarification were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. The ongoing exchange between both political figures continues to ignite debate across Nigeria’s political spectrum.
