By Patrick Idowu
The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, has dismissed allegations by Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, that he threatened him over his New Year message to President Bola Tinubu.
Obi had claimed via social media that Morka warned him of “consequences” for his remarks, alleging threats to his life, family, and associates.
The accusation sparked reactions, with Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), presidential candidate, condemning what he described as suppression of opposition voices.
The Labour Party also called on Tinubu to intervene and investigate the alleged threat.
However, in a statement on Tuesday, Morka denied the allegations, clarifying that his remarks were taken out of context from an interview on AriseTV’s THIS WEEK program on January 4, 2025.
“To be clear, I did not threaten Mr. Obi, his family, or anyone. My statement was solely in response to a question about Obi’s repeated claims and his ‘voodoo economics’ narrative,” Morka stated.
He accused Obi of spreading misinformation, emphasizing that freedom of speech is a constitutional right available to all Nigerians, not just the Labour Party candidate.
Morka also criticized Obi’s online supporters, alleging they intimidate and bully critics while he remains silent.
He further accused Obi of portraying himself as beyond reproach while inciting negative sentiments against political opponents.
“There’s no doubt that Mr. Obi has crossed the line in many of his assessments. As a presidential candidate, he made bold promises on economic policies, yet continues to mislead the public,” Morka added.
The controversy underscores the ongoing political tensions between the ruling APC and opposition figures following the 2023 general elections.
