The Truth Behind Peter Obi’s Missing Phones At Tribunal: His Aide Reveals All

Patrick OdeyAugust 3, 2023

2 minutes read

The Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has debunked the rumour that his mobile phones were stolen at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja on Tuesday.

Obi, who spoke through his media aide, Tai Obasi, told Newsflash Nigeria that the phones were safely kept by his aide.

The social media had been flooded with videos and memes of the bewildered former governor of Anambra State searching for his phones at the tribunal, with many people speculating that they were probably snatched in the court while he was greeting his party supporters.

Obi, who wore his usual black outfit, sat close to his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, National Chairman of LP, Julius Abure and renowned writer, Chimamanda Adichie, throughout the court’s proceedings.

Obasi dismissed the rumour as false and misleading, saying the phones were never stolen. He said it was normal for one to look for an item, especially when one thinks it is misplaced.

“He didn’t lose his phone at all. What happened was that one of his aides, who always accompanies him, was with me in the court.

“Normally, he keeps his phone on the table in front of him. So when his aide noticed that a lot of people were coming to greet him and he was distracted from the phone, he took it for safekeeping.

“Unfortunately, the aide wasn’t with him when he started looking for the phone. So he didn’t know it was the aide that kept it.

“The whole drama lasted for less than two minutes before the aide, who went to use the restroom, came back with the phone. But by then, Obi’s anxiety over the missing phone had caught the attention of some people. I think that was when whoever recorded the video captured the scene. The person who took the viral clip only showed the part where he was looking for the phone and started spreading it. They were circulating the report long before we left the court,” he said.

Obasi said they were not surprised by how the video trended in a negative way. He said they were aware of some people who were bent on tarnishing Obi’s image and reputation.

“We know there are some people who are out to smear Obi’s name and character. They are afraid of his popularity and credibility. They are trying to use this incident to ridicule him and make him look incompetent. But they have failed woefully.

“Nigerians know who Obi is and what he stands for. He is a man of integrity and honour. He is not bothered by these cheap shots and distractions. He is focused on pursuing justice and fairness at the tribunal,” he said.