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Don’t politicise sports, Presidency tells Obi after he said NFF officials stopped him from greeting Flamingos

By Linda Ikeji 9 November 2026, 3:36 pm

The Presidency has reacted after Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, claimed that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation prevented him from greeting members of the national Under-17 women’s team, the Flamingos.

In a statement released on Monday, Nov. 9, the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, accused Obi of attempting to politicise national sports teams and institutions.

Olusegun Dada quote-tweeted Obi's post on X and wrote: "The constant attempt by the opposition to politicize our national sports teams and institutions is highly distasteful.

"Our national athletes, including the Under-17 girls' team, represent the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria, not any specific political party or individual ambition. Protocol guidelines around national teams are designed strictly to protect young athletes from political exploitation, commercial distractions, and unnecessary media circuses while on official duty.

"To spin standard security and administrative protocols into a narrative of political victimization is a disservice to the unity that sports are meant to foster in our country.

"Mr Peter Obi, I hope you will reflect on your manipulative way of life and stop weaponizing unverified hearsay to build a victim narrative. Let our athletes focus on winning for Nigeria, free from political theater. Thank you."