2027: PVM President Warns Peter Obi Against Unverified Claims, Challenges Anambra Record
2027: PVM President Warns Peter Obi Against Unverified Claims, Challenges Anambra Record
President of the Progressives Vision Movement (PVM), Prince Gbadegeshin Ademola, has cautioned former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi against what he described as the use of unverified statistics and inaccurate data in public discussions, urging him to ensure that his claims are backed by verifiable evidence.
Ademola said political leaders seeking to govern Nigeria must place facts, credible data and issue-based discussions above rhetoric capable of creating unnecessary public emotions or divisions.
The PVM president spoke against the backdrop of renewed controversy surrounding Obi’s record as Anambra governor and recent exchanges involving the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
His comments also followed a call by Anambra businessman Chief Izuorah Nnamdi Iloma Anichebe for Soludo to stop engaging Obi politically and instead concentrate on promoting his administration’s achievements and making the case for President Bola Tinubu.
Ademola, however, argued that attempts to scrutinise Obi’s record or challenge disputed figures should not automatically be interpreted as attacks against the former governor.
According to him, Soludo, as the incumbent governor of Anambra State, has the right to present government records where claims concerning the state’s finances and previous administrations are disputed.
“Putting the records straight should not be described as attacking Peter Obi. If anybody presents figures or makes claims about his record in government, those claims must be open to verification,” Ademola said.
He accused Obi of making statements on some national issues that, in his assessment, contain questionable statistics or lack sufficient context.
The PVM president urged Obi to disclose credible sources for important figures used in his speeches, interviews and political engagements so Nigerians can independently examine them.
“Nigeria is a country of more than 200 million people with diverse ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds. Anyone aspiring to lead such a nation must be coherent on issues and must be extremely careful about the facts and statistics he presents to the public,” Ademola said.
He further argued that political criticism of the government should not translate into portraying Nigeria as a country where nothing positive is happening.
According to him, opposition politicians have a legitimate responsibility to scrutinise those in power, but such criticism should be based on evidence and presented in a manner that does not unnecessarily undermine confidence in the country.
Ademola warned that the Progressives Vision Movement would consider lawful means of challenging statements it believes are demonstrably false and potentially harmful.
“If any false claim is presented as fact, we are prepared to challenge it through the appropriate legal process. Political campaigns should be about issues, policies and verifiable records, not what people popularly call ‘lamba’,” he said.
The PVM president also challenged Nigerians to scrutinise Obi’s eight-year tenure as Anambra governor between 2006 and 2014 rather than accepting either positive or negative political narratives without examination.
He said questions surrounding employment, security, infrastructure, democratic institutions, public finances and other aspects of Obi’s administration should be assessed using available records.
Ademola rejected what he described as the portrayal of Obi by some supporters as a political “messiah”, arguing that every presidential aspirant must be subjected to the same level of scrutiny.
The latest intervention comes amid renewed disagreement over financial obligations linked to previous administrations in Anambra State.
The Soludo administration recently released records which it said showed outstanding external loan balances connected to facilities originating during Obi’s tenure.
Obi and his supporters have disputed aspects of the government’s interpretation, insisting that the former governor left significant financial resources for his successor and did not leave the categories of unpaid obligations alleged by his critics.
Ademola maintained that such competing claims demonstrate why political arguments should be settled through documentary evidence rather than emotion.
He also addressed criticism surrounding local government democracy during Obi’s tenure.
Although critics have frequently accused the former governor of failing to conduct council elections, historical records show that Anambra held local government elections on January 11, 2014, shortly before Obi completed his second term. The timing and wider record of local government administration during his tenure have nevertheless remained subjects of political debate.
Ademola said Nigerians should examine such records in their proper context when assessing the performance of anyone seeking the presidency.
He maintained that neither Obi nor any other political leader should be insulated from scrutiny ahead of the 2027 general election.
“Records and data cannot simply be erased. Let everybody bring forward his achievements, figures and evidence. Nigerians should be allowed to examine the facts and make their own judgment,” Ademola said.
With political activities gathering momentum ahead of 2027, the disagreement involving Obi, Soludo and their supporters is increasingly turning Anambra’s governance history into part of the wider national political conversation.
For the PVM president, however, the debate should move away from personalities and concentrate on verifiable records, policy alternatives and the competing visions being presented to Nigerians.
