The Deputy Campaign Spokesperson of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Sam Omale, has dismissed concerns over the health of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, insisting that he is in good health and is only experiencing exhaustion from his demanding schedule.

Omale made this known during an interview on Channels Television, where he attributed Obi’s physical exhaustion to his hectic political engagements and frequent travels across different locations.

He explained that Obi’s commitment to his political activities often sees him undertake multiple engagements within a short period, leaving him with little time to rest.

“Sometimes I wonder where he gets his energy from. He is in London today and the following morning in Enugu. I’m wondering how he does it. Exhaustion comes in; he is a human being,” Omale said.

The NDC spokesperson, however, maintained that there was no cause for alarm over Obi’s health, stressing that the presidential candidate was not suffering from any known medical condition.

“He is in perfect health. There’s nothing wrong with him. It’s just exhaustion, and we are trying to calm him down to take a sleep. He is fine,” he added.

Omale further assured that the temporary exhaustion would not affect the party’s ongoing political activities and campaign engagements.

Background

Omale’s comments come amid recent speculation about Obi’s health following the circulation of viral reports and photographs on social media claiming that the former Anambra State governor had been hospitalised after allegedly breaking his neck in a gym accident.

However, Obi’s spokesman, Idris Zekeri, had on Sunday dismissed the report as false, describing it as a fabricated story allegedly designed by the candidate’s political opponents to score cheap political points ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Zekeri, who said he was with Obi at about 7 am on Sunday before the latter boarded a flight for an international engagement, insisted that the presidential candidate was in good health.

“There is zero iota of truth in that rumour. No such thing happened. I was with His Excellency, Mr Peter Obi, at about 7 am today (Sunday) when he got on a flight for an international engagement.

“But I can assure you that he is safe, sound and in the finest state of health, mind, body, soul and spirit. He is ready to continue to engage with Nigerians as we prepare to kick out the faceless and lying APC,” he said.

He also described the photographs circulating on social media as doctored images, insisting that Obi remained physically and mentally fit.

Zekeri added that the campaign team was not perturbed by the reports, maintaining that Obi was in sound health and prepared to continue his political engagements.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has disowned a discharge certificate linked to former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, telling a Federal High Court in Abuja that the document was not issued by the Corps.

Testifying on Tuesday as the second prosecution witness (PW2) before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, an NYSC Assistant Director in the Department of Certification, Yusuf Abubakar Jumare, said an investigation conducted by his department established that the certificate was not authentic.

Nnaji is facing six charges, including alleged forgery of his NYSC discharge certificate and University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), degree certificate.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is prosecuting him over allegations of certificate forgery and money laundering in charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/389/2026.

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Jimoh Abdulmumuni, SAN, Jumare told the court that his department commenced an investigation into the disputed certificate following a request from the ICPC.

He identified four major discrepancies which, according to him, established that the certificate was not issued by the NYSC.

First, he said the certificate number, purportedly issued in 1985, carries the prefix “A”, which the Corps did not introduce until 1990.

Second, the call-up number on the document is “0137”, a four-digit number, whereas call-up numbers issued in 1985 had five digits.

Third, he said the certificate indicates a service period of 13 months instead of the required 12 calendar months.

The fourth discrepancy, according to the witness, relates to the designation of the NYSC chief executive who purportedly signed the document.

He explained that from the establishment of the Corps until after the period of Nnaji’s claimed service, the designation of its chief executive was “Director”, whereas the disputed certificate was signed by an official described as “National General”.

The prosecution also tendered copies of correspondence between the ICPC and the NYSC concerning the disputed certificate. The documents were admitted in evidence and marked as exhibits.

However, the defence informed the court that it had not been served with the documents and reserved its right to challenge their admissibility at a later date.

In response, prosecution counsel explained that he had only recently taken over the case and undertook to make the documents available to the defence.

During cross-examination by Bode Olanikpekun, SAN, Jumare maintained that the certificate was not issued by the NYSC.

He told the court that his department is the custodian of all NYSC certificates, which are issued to corps members upon successful completion of their service year as evidence of their participation in the scheme.

The witness further explained that the NYSC sends call-up letters to universities for onward distribution to graduates, while universities are responsible for forwarding the names of eligible graduates to the Corps for mobilisation.

However, Jumare admitted under cross-examination that he did not verify whether Nnaji had ever been issued an NYSC certificate.

Nnaji, who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the forthcoming Enugu State governorship election, was represented in court by a team of lawyers led by Chief Wole Olanikpekun, SAN. Other members of the legal team included Chief Ugwu Onoja, SAN; Bode Olanikpekun, SAN; and George Ibrahim, SAN.

Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case until November 30 for the continuation of the cross-examination of PW2, while January 29 was fixed for the continuation of the trial.

Gunmen have abducted two visually impaired persons, a man and a woman, in Plateau State, demanding N50 million for their release after attacking a vehicle conveying nine passengers in Riyom Local Government Area.

The victims were reportedly travelling from Benue State to Jos alongside seven other passengers when the vehicle was intercepted by the gunmen at about 8pm on Monday.

While seven occupants managed to escape during the attack, the assailants seized the two persons and whisked them away to an unknown destination.

The Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) in Plateau State, Shindol Aaron, confirmed the incident, explaining that the victims had travelled to Benue for a training programme but decided to return to Jos after receiving information that the event had been postponed.

According to him, the passengers were on their way back to Jos when they encountered the kidnappers, who abducted two occupants and allowed the remaining seven to escape.

He said, “They were nine in the vehicle. Seven of them escaped, and two were abducted. So, right now, we have a male and a lady in their custody.”

Aaron disclosed that the abductors had contacted someone in connection with the incident, although he had yet to establish direct communication with them.

He added that the association had reported the abduction to security agencies and was working with relevant authorities to secure the victims’ release.

Another member of the association, Ishaya Ayuba Danjatau, disclosed that the kidnappers had demanded N50 million as ransom for the release of the two victims.

He expressed concern over the difficulty of raising such a huge amount, particularly given the vulnerable circumstances of the abducted persons.

“The kidnappers have reached out, and they are demanding N50 million before they can free the two persons in their custody. Where do they want us to get the money from?” he queried.

Efforts to reach the Plateau State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Alabo Alfred, for confirmation and comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.