TheCable

The Labour Party (LP) has denied receiving an apology from the British government over the detention of Peter Obi, its presidential candidate, by immigration officials at Heathrow Airport in London.

The LP on Wednesday had said Obi was harassed and detained by London immigration officials over alleged impersonation. 

The party said Obi was questioned for a long time and that it took the intervention of Nigerians who quickly raised their voices asking why he was being delayed.

On Thursday, there were reports that the British authorities have apologised over the incident.

However, in a statement signed by Diran Onifade, the head of Obi-Datti media team, the party said it was not aware of any apology.

“We have been receiving enquiries with regards to a so-called apology, purportedly issued by the British Government or any of its agencies, to our Principal Mr Peter Obi, in respect of a routine immigration engagement with him, as he arrived London, for a brief visit, last Friday, the 7th of April,” the statement reads.

“We would like to state emphatically that we are not aware of any such apology, and have not issued any statement whatsoever, in that regard.

“While we continue to examine any dubious or political motive, on the part of the perpetrators of the identity theft, we have every confidence in the ability of the British authorities to resolve the matter, to a conclusion.

“Mr Peter Obi and the LP/PCC have since moved on from the incident and continue to be totally focused, on the legal processes before the Election Petition Tribunal towards the recovery of our mandate, which we are firmly convinced, was overwhelmingly expressed by voters, in the Presidential election of February 25th.”