Former Anambra State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of preventing him from greeting members of the national Under-17 women’s football team, the Flamingos, at an airport in Abuja.

Obi alleged that the officials warned that they could lose their jobs if they allowed him to approach the players, raising concerns over what he described as the growing influence of political divisions in the country.

The former governor made the allegation in a post on X on Monday, recounting how he encountered the team at the airport while preparing to travel to Enugu.

According to Obi, he arrived at about 7 a.m. and spotted the Flamingos, who had just returned to Nigeria and were preparing to leave the airport. He said he then asked his Protocol Officer, Jackie Wayas, to find out whether he could welcome and congratulate the players on their achievement.

However, he claimed that the request was rejected by NFF officials, who allegedly instructed that he should not be allowed near the team.

“I was informed that officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) had refused and had requested that I not approach them because, if I did, they would all lose their jobs,” Obi wrote.

He said the incident reminded him of another occasion in March 2025 when he travelled to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to watch a World Cup qualifying match involving Nigeria.

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Obi recalled that the state governor received him warmly at the VIP stand before the match, but alleged that he was later prevented from greeting members of the national team after the game.

He claimed that officials gave a similar explanation, saying they risked losing their jobs if they allowed him to interact with the players.

The NDC presidential candidate expressed concern that such incidents reflected an increasingly hostile political environment, arguing that political differences should not determine how citizens are treated or prevent people from celebrating national sporting achievements together.

“The new Nigeria we aspire to build must have no room for hostility, intimidation, or discrimination, regardless of political affiliation.

“It must be a Nigeria in which unity, mutual respect, and our shared humanity take precedence over political differences,” he added.

The Flamingos returned to Abuja on Monday after securing a 2-1 victory over Japan in the final of the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Rabat, Morocco.