The Presidency has launched a scathing critique of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, accusing him of financial opacity regarding his 2023 campaign funds and a lack of political ideological consistency.
In a statement released Monday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, reacted to Obi’s recent interview on *Channels Television*. Onanuga claimed the interview was a “desperate” attempt to revive Obi’s 2027 presidential ambitions but argued it had only succeeded in drawing public backlash.
Allegations of Financial Opacity
The most serious of Onanuga’s charges involved the management of election resources. He alleged that the Labour Party (LP) fell into a leadership crisis following the 2023 polls because campaign funds in Obi’s possession had “not been fully accounted for.”
He further accused the former Anambra State Governor of being a “political nomad” who abandons parties during internal crises or after electoral defeats rather than staying to build them.
‘Progressive Consistency’ vs. ‘Party Hopping’
Onanuga took exception to Obi’s comparison of his political career with that of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He argued that while Tinubu has remained steadfast within the “progressive political tradition” since the 1990s—moving through a lineage of parties (SDP, AD, AC, ACN) that eventually merged to form the APC—Obi’s journey has been marked by opportunism.
“Obi was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), later defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to serve as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate, moved to the Labour Party for the 2023 cycle, and has now aligned with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC),” Onanuga stated.
2023 Election Results
Addressing Obi’s continued grievances regarding the last presidential election, the presidential spokesman insisted that the contest is over and the results are settled.
“Obi did not win the 2023 poll. The results were upheld by the courts, including the Supreme Court,” Onanuga said. He urged Obi to accept the judicial reality and “move on” rather than continuing to insist he was denied victory.
The spokesman concluded by advising the NDC candidate to focus on future political engagements with honesty rather than making “false claims” to the Nigerian public.
