The Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, over his remarks on the recent decision by the United States to designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern”.

On Monday, Obi said the US declaration, which signalled the possibility of military action, highlighted the severity of Nigeria’s escalating security crisis.

The former Anambra governor also faulted the APC-led federal government, accusing it of “lacking the competence and moral will” to lead the country towards peace and justice.

Reacting on Tuesday, Seye Oladejo, spokesperson of the Lagos APC, accused Obi of “turning a sensitive national matter into political theatre” instead of showing leadership.

Oladejo stated that Obi’s reaction was “too late and too shallow”, alleging that public criticism forced him to comment rather than patriotic concern.

“For a man always chasing microphones and hashtags, his sudden silence was deafening until Nigerians began to question it,” he said in a statement.

“It is clear that Obi did not speak out of national concern but out of fear of being exposed for his double standards. His reaction lacked sincerity, urgency, and any semblance of unifying spirit.”

The APC argued that true leaders stand with their country in difficult times, saying Obi’s conduct reflected “melodrama, not maturity”.

“A man who claims to seek national leadership should not need public reminders before defending his country,” Oladejo said.

“Leadership is proactive, not reactive — and certainly not driven by online agitation.”

He accused Obi of taking advantage of Nigeria’s challenges for political gain, saying the former governor “appears happy only when the country faces difficulties”.

“Real leaders balance criticism with dignity and patriotism. But Obi thrives politically when Nigeria struggles,” he said.

“That is not patriotism; it’s politics of bitterness born from electoral heartbreak.”

Oladejo defended President Bola Tinubu’s efforts on security, saying the current administration inherited the problems but is acting decisively to address them.

“President Tinubu is confronting insecurity with courage and strategy — strengthening the military, deploying modern technology, and rebuilding regional alliances,” he said.

“While serious leaders are working, Obi and his online choir are stuck in 2023, feeding off foreign commentary for political oxygen.”

The APC challenged Obi to “choose between standing with Nigeria or clinging to resentment”.

“No serious nation is built on sulking and sensationalism,” Oladejo said.

“Obi’s behaviour shows why Nigerians rejected him. Leadership demands maturity, not melodrama and delayed outrage.”

He added that Nigeria’s progress would not be determined by “those praying for its failure”.

“Nigeria will rise, with or without the naysayers,” he said.

“We urge citizens to stay focused on the Renewed Hope agenda and ignore those who profit politically from national difficulty.”

Immigration officers at a Nigerian airport have seized the international passport of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central in the National Assembly.

The senator made the allegation during a live Facebook broadcast on Tuesday morning, claiming the action was carried out on the orders of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Akpoti-Uduaghan explained that she had planned to embark on a short break after marking her second year in office but was prevented from travelling when officials reportedly withheld her passport.

“Having completed the celebration of my second year, I decided to take a week off, and my passport is being withheld again. The same thing happened before,” she said.

She stressed that she had not committed any offence and insisted that there was no court order authorising the seizure of her travel document.

“I have committed no offence, and there is no order from any court to seize my passport or deny me from travelling,” she said.

The senator further claimed that during a similar encounter in the past, an airport official disclosed that the directive to hold her passport originated from the Senate President.

“The last time it happened, the officer in charge told us that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, instructed them to withhold my passport and prevent me from travelling,” she claimed.

As of press time, neither the Nigeria Immigration Service nor the Office of the Senate President had issued a response to the allegation.

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar had no alternative but to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Atiku resigned from the PDP on July 14, stating that the party had deviated from its founding principles and was struggling with “irreconcilable differences”.

Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme on Monday, Wike said Atiku’s departure was expected because he could not use the party to pursue his personal political interests.

“Atiku has no choice but to leave because he wanted to use the PDP, but knowing that I’m there, he cannot get that platform,” the FCT minister said.

He accused Atiku and other defectors of weakening the PDP, saying they contributed to the internal crisis affecting the party. “Those are people who destroyed the party,” he said, adding, “How many times has he left PDP and returned?”

Wike also criticised Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday. “Diri has said he has left PDP, and I’m one of the happiest persons today,” he said.

He recalled that Diri and Oyo governor Seyi Makinde previously vowed to protect the PDP from collapse but has now left the party. “The same him and Makinde said they would not allow anybody to destroy the PDP and fall to the gutter. Who has entered the gutter today?” Wike asked.

The minister accused Diri of hypocrisy, noting that the Bayelsa governor once described others as “undertakers” attempting to bury the PDP, yet has now joined the APC.

“If I heard what he said, he claimed that some people came into the party as undertakers,” Wike said. “I didn’t just come into the party; I have been a bona fide member since 1998.”

He listed his political journey, noting he started as a local government chairman before serving as governor of Rivers state for eight years. “When Diri was in PDP, he was one of those who said I was working for APC to destroy PDP,” Wike said. “He was the chairman of the zoning committee of the party.”

Wike further mocked Diri, saying he should be grateful for his new political path. “If he were to say I am working with APC, Diri should come to me and say, ‘Thank you, master,’” Wike said. “He should pay me and say, ‘Thank you for opening my eyes to see the light,’ if he were true.”

He maintained that his loyalty to the PDP has never been in doubt, despite the party’s internal issues. “When I was a governor under Buhari, everything was done to kill PDP, but I said no way—I fought,” he said.

Wike insisted that leadership remains crucial and said individuals often look for excuses while blaming others. “Leadership is key to everything you are doing. Everybody wants to make excuses. The man they claimed is killing PDP is still in the PDP,” he said.