The presidency has lashed out at Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, over his recent television appearance on Channels Television. Officials at the seat of power accused the former Anambra governor of misrepresenting his political history and rejecting the results of the 2023 presidential election.
Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu's special adviser on information and strategy, weighed in on the controversy through a post on X on Monday. He branded Obi's interview a "PR disaster" and suggested it failed to boost his flagging hopes for the 2027 general election.
Onanuga took particular aim at Obi's attempt to draw parallels between his own party-switching and that of the president. He insisted that Tinubu has remained faithful to progressive political ideology throughout his career shifts.
The president moved from the Social Democratic Party to the Alliance for Democracy, then the Action Congress, followed by the Action Congress of Nigeria, and finally settled in the All Progressives Congress, Onanuga explained. He stressed these moves all stayed within the same ideological framework.
Obi's trajectory looks quite different, according to the presidential spokesman. The Labour Party's 2023 flag-bearer has migrated from the All Progressives Grand Alliance to the Peoples Democratic Party, then the Labour Party, and now the National Democratic Congress.
Onanuga branded Obi a "political nomad" who abandons parties instead of rebuilding them. He alleged the former governor jumps ship whenever a political platform no longer serves his personal ambitions.
"Having watched Peter Obi's interview on Channels TV on Sunday for about 30 minutes, I wasted no time tuning off," Onanuga said. He argued the discussion would backfire rather than revive Obi's 2027 presidential prospects.
The adviser claimed Obi doesn't construct political movements but instead seeks to harvest benefits from others' labour. He suggested the NDC faces the same risk as Obi's previous parties if it fails to meet his expectations.
Onanuga also contended that Obi had squandered a chance to repair his image regarding the 2023 election outcome. He claimed the interview presenter offered Obi an opening to address these concerns but the candidate missed the opportunity.
