In a saga that lays bare the entitlements of Nigeria’s political elite, Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, has found himself at the centre of a controversy riddled with falsehoods, grandstanding, and misplaced aggression—all over a missed flight.
On Wednesday, a routine early morning Air Peace flight at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, descended into chaos when the former Edo State governor reportedly blocked access to the terminal after arriving late and being denied boarding. Eyewitnesses and airport officials who spoke with Time Africa on condition of anonymity described a dramatic display of power by the senator, who—far from being a victim of airline misconduct—was the author of his own misfortune.
At a press briefing on Wednesday evening, he denied the allegation, explaining that his actions were in defence of fellow passengers who were unfairly denied boarding despite complying with the airline’s check-in policies.
The former Edo governor alleged that, although he had checked in online for a 6:30 a.m. flight along with two Ghanaian colleagues, he was barred from boarding upon arrival at the terminal shortly after 6:00 a.m.
“They delayed the flight for over five hours. In the end, they announced a cancellation. I had to get another ticket. Yesterday, I booked a flight for 6:30 a.m., which is their first flight today. I booked and asked them to check me in online, which I did, along with two other Ghanaians . We checked in online just to avoid the last-minute issues I’ve had with them a couple of times,” he had said.
“I got there at about five minutes past six. They told me the counter was closed. I told them, ‘No, I’ve already checked in.’ I showed them the evidence of my online check-in. Even before then, they had asked if I had checked in, and I told them yes, and that I had no luggage. They looked at it but still said the gate had been closed. Meanwhile, I noticed they were still taking other people in.”
Despite Oshiomhole’s public claim at the hastily arranged press briefing that he had completed the online check-in process for the 6:30 a.m. flight, a fact-check by Time Africa on Friday using his reference number proved otherwise: he never checked in online. Air Peace’s system showed no such record tied to the senator’s ticket.
What transpired instead, according to verified accounts from airport sources, was a full-blown obstruction. The senator reportedly arrived at the terminal just after 6:00 a.m.—cutting it perilously close to departure. He was informed, as per protocol, that the check-in counter and boarding gate had been closed. In response, Oshiomhole launched into a tirade, blocked the entrance to the terminal building, and caused a gridlock that delayed other flights and left scores of passengers stranded.
“He stood right there, refusing to move. Staff kept pleading with him, even the terminal manager came out to ask him to allow others through. He was shouting, blaming the airline, saying he had checked in online, but he couldn’t show the staff any valid confirmation,” said an airport security official who was on duty that morning.
Rather than admit fault for his own lateness, Oshiomhole framed the confrontation as an act of solidarity with other passengers who he claimed were being unfairly treated. “They denied boarding to passengers who checked in online,” he said at the briefing. “I stood my ground because I saw injustice.”
However, this narrative quickly crumbled under scrutiny. Multiple passengers who were at the airport that morning confirmed that boarding closed at the scheduled time. “We were already on the bus heading to the tarmac when we saw him arrive. No one was being denied entry unfairly—he was simply late,” a passenger told Time Africa.
The senator’s combative reaction may have been calculated. As a seasoned political actor, Oshiomhole understands the optics of victimhood in a country where citizens are justifiably skeptical of service providers, especially airlines. But in this instance, he failed to recognize that misinformation has a short shelf life in the face of verifiable systems.
Air Peace, which has faced its fair share of operational criticism, was unusually restrained. The airline issued no formal statement but confirmed to Time Africa that Oshiomhole had not checked in online and arrived too late to board. “We operate strictly by aviation regulations. No passenger, no matter how highly placed, is allowed to board once the gate is closed,” said a senior Air Peace official.
The fallout has drawn attention from the highest quarters. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, weighed in on Friday, urging restraint and thorough investigation. “I have directed all aviation agencies to exercise restraint and adhere to the principle of hearing all sides before drawing conclusions,” he posted on X.
While Keyamo’s intervention may be diplomatically sound, it also reinforces a troubling status quo where VIPs expect, and often receive, special treatment. In this case, Oshiomhole’s actions speak louder than his words. He sought to bulldoze his way past protocol, using intimidation and public posturing to rewrite a narrative that was already disproven by digital records.
The real victims here are the ordinary passengers whose flights were delayed and the airport staff who bore the brunt of the senator’s outburst. In a country desperate for institutions that function, it is disgraceful that an elected official would not only lie about following procedures but then weaponize his influence to cast aspersions on those enforcing them.
Oshiomhole’s behaviour is not just unbecoming—it is emblematic of a wider rot in Nigeria’s political class: a belief that rules are for others. That entitlement must be called out, especially when it disrupts the lives of everyday citizens simply trying to get from one place to another.
Time Africa stands firmly in defence of institutional integrity and expects nothing less than an unequivocal apology from Senator Adams Oshiomhole—not just to Air Peace, but to the Nigerian people.
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