Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last election, has raised concerns over his health and fitness with an awkward fall at a recent event where he made an appearance as part of ongoing public relations efforts to rebuild his battered reputation.
Obi was making his way across the stage when he suddenly fell, requiring rescue from his security aides who scrambled to help him back on his feet while shielding the visibly shaken politician from the cameras.
Peter Obi @PeterObi is terribly sick. The man needs rest. May God heal Ekwute and return his stolen manhood ???? pic.twitter.com/qfqCqulIUb
— Jerry koko Durojaiye (@kokomatic) May 3, 2023
His fall came on the back of an embarrassing gaffe in a television interview where he claimed to have left the UK in the year 2025 whilst attempting to explain his detainment at the London Heathrow airport several days back.
At the time, there were questions about the status of his mental health, especially as he offered incoherent arguments in defence of bizarre claims, including his purported victory in the last election despite coming third.
The fall has increased those questions, with many alleging possible ailments tied to chronic fatigue, mental distress, and emotional unbalance. Indeed, Obi has been in the eye of a storm since his reputation was torn to shreds with the leak of an audio conversation he had with a famous cleric, David Oyedepo, in which he revealed his divisive antics by soliciting votes as a “Christian candidate” engaged in a “religious war”.
The revelation, which turned many Nigerians against the candidate, was followed by an Easter arrest and detainment in London, United Kingdom, over possible criminal involvement in tax evasion, money laundering, and other financial crimes.
According to a medical doctor, Mr Athanasius Chukwu, the rapid succession of setbacks suffered by the former Anambra governor may have raised his stress levels and caused certain medical issues he may need to receive attention for.
“He suffered a crushing election defeat, was exposed as a possible religious bigot, and then arrested and questioned for hours; these events no doubt affected his public perception and that must take a toll on his mind and body. The strange fall may be an indication of a much more serious problem and if he were my patient, I’d recommend immediate bed rest and examination,” the doctor said.
Obi has since targeted Muslims in a public relations effort to repair his battered image, particularly in the northern region of the country.