Presidency tells Peter Obi to stop dreaming, insists he lost 2023 presidential election

Presidency tells Peter Obi to stop dreaming, insists he lost 2023 presidential election

The Presidency has intensified its criticism of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), telling him to stop claiming victory in the 2023 presidential election and accept what it described as his defeat at the polls.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the remarks in a lengthy post on his verified X account while reacting to Obi’s appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme.

Onanuga said he watched only part of the interview before turning it off, describing it as a failed attempt to revive Obi’s political fortunes ahead of the 2027 general election. He accused the former Anambra State governor of making misleading claims, particularly when comparing his political journey with that of President Tinubu.

According to the presidential aide, President Tinubu has remained consistent with his political ideology throughout his career. He noted that Tinubu’s political path moved from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the Alliance for Democracy (AD), the Action Congress (AC), the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and eventually the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Onanuga also recalled Tinubu’s role in the pro-democracy struggle following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, saying the President endured detention, lived in exile during military rule and later returned to serve as governor of Lagos State before becoming one of the founding leaders of the APC.

“Tinubu remained true to his ideological persuasion. He stayed in the same political lane,” Onanuga said.

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The presidential spokesman contrasted Tinubu’s political history with Obi’s movement across several parties. He pointed out that Obi was elected governor of Anambra State under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) before moving to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), later contesting the presidency on the platform of the Labour Party, and eventually joining the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Onanuga alleged that Obi has repeatedly abandoned political parties instead of helping to rebuild them after internal crises or electoral setbacks.

He claimed that the Labour Party became embroiled in a leadership crisis after the 2023 presidential election and alleged that campaign funds remained a subject of unresolved questions. According to him, rather than stay behind to strengthen the party, Obi opted to leave.

The presidential aide further alleged that Obi also exited the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after reportedly concluding that securing the party’s presidential ticket would be difficult, accusing him of frequently changing political platforms whenever circumstances became unfavorable.

Onanuga also faulted Obi for continuing to insist that he won the 2023 presidential election, despite the Supreme Court judgment affirming President Tinubu’s victory.

According to him, Channels Television presenter Seun Okinbaloye gave Obi an opportunity during the interview to reconsider his position on the election, but the former Labour Party presidential candidate maintained that he was denied victory.

“You lost, Peter. You didn’t win that election. You came third,” Onanuga stated, adding that Obi should accept the outcome instead of revisiting the election more than three years after the Supreme Court delivered its final judgment.

He maintained that while Obi performed strongly despite contesting without a nationwide political structure, the election had been concluded legally and politically.

“Mr Obi, it is time you accepted the stark reality of the loss. Stop dreaming of a victory that you never had,” Onanuga added.

The Presidency’s remarks followed Obi’s interview in which the former presidential candidate defended his political record and renewed his call for reforms to improve Nigeria’s electoral process. Obi also urged public officials and political opponents to focus more on addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges, insecurity, unemployment and poverty rather than making him the subject of political debates.

The latest exchange underscores the deepening political rivalry between the Presidency and Obi as political realignments and preparations for the 2027 general election continue to shape Nigeria’s political landscape.

Presidency tells Peter Obi to stop dreaming, insists he lost 2023 presidential election