Presidency Labels Peter Obi’s TV Interview a ‘PR Disaster,’ Defends Tinubu’s Political Record
Presidency Labels Peter Obi’s TV Interview a ‘PR Disaster,’ Defends Tinubu’s Political Record
The Presidency has criticised the recent television interview granted by Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi, describing the media appearance as a “public relations disaster” and accusing the former Anambra State governor of making misleading claims about his political history and the 2023 presidential election.
In a statement posted on his verified X account, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Obi’s interview failed to achieve its intended objective of boosting his political profile ahead of the 2027 general election. According to Onanuga, the interview generated widespread criticism because of what he described as inaccurate assertions and an unwillingness to acknowledge the outcome of the last presidential poll.
The presidential spokesman particularly faulted Obi’s comparison of his political journey with that of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Onanuga argued that while Tinubu had moved through different political platforms—including the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alliance for Democracy (AD), Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the All Progressives Congress (APC)—his political ideology had remained consistently progressive throughout his career. He maintained that Obi’s political movements were fundamentally different from Tinubu’s trajectory.
The Presidency also criticised Obi’s continued comments on the 2023 presidential election, insisting that the election had been concluded in accordance with the law and affirmed through the judicial process. Onanuga urged the opposition leader to focus on presenting alternative policy ideas rather than revisiting issues that had already been settled by the courts.
The latest exchange reflects the intensifying political contest ahead of the 2027 general election, with both the ruling APC and opposition figures increasingly engaging in public debates over governance, leadership credentials and their respective visions for Nigeria’s future.
