Peter Obi Detained At Heathrow Airport In London During Easter: Report

Labour Party's presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was detained by the United Kingdom's immigration authorities at Heathrow Airport in London during Easter.

The party's Presidential Campaign Council reportedly shared the news Wednesday.

Obi was held at the airport on Good Friday, April 7, for questioning, a statement released by Obi-Datti media team head Diran Onifade said, according to Premium Times.

Obi had just joined the queue for necessary protocols at the airport when he was accosted by immigration officials who handed him a detention note and told him to step aside.

"He was questioned for a long time and it was very strange for a man who lived for over a decade in that country," the statement mentioned, as per Punch. "Since Obi's face was already an international frame, especially for Nigerians, Africans home and in the Diaspora who are likely to be Obidients, the people quickly raised their voices wondering why he was being delayed."

The statement further noted that Obi was questioned for a duplication offense, which reportedly means someone has been impersonating him in London.

"The high implication of the offense is that the impersonator could be committing all kinds of weighty crimes and other dubious acts and it would be recorded in Obi's name," it continued.

Onifade noted that Obi has been attacked in all manners since the presidential election held on Feb. 25. He was apparently hinting at Obi's recent audio leak, in which he allegedly talks about a religious war.

In the said audio, he can be heard talking to Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, and asking for his help to encourage Christians in the South-West and Kwara State to support him during the presidential elections.

Obi clarified last week that he never encouraged people to vote on the basis of "tribe or religion." He also claimed that these attempt of defaming him was made by the opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC).

Talking about the statement, Onifade reportedly said, "Even the Federal Government who directed him to go to court even dispatched the Minister of Information Lai Mohammad to the United States to attempt at de-marketing him and accused him of treason."

"As if they were not getting the desired results of denting his image, and possibly placing the traducers under a heavier conscience load, they tried to persuade him to leave the country and go take a rest," Onifade added, according to Premium Times.

Finally, he said Obi is "ready to suffer the pain and remain even more determined to pursue whichever path his creator destined for him in Nigeria."

Upon being contacted via his phone, Onifade shared that Obi "experienced a delay at the airport because someone duplicated his details. But he has since returned to the country."