Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga has criticised the recent television interview granted by the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, describing the appearance as a public relations disaster.
Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, spoke during an interview on Channels Television on Sunday, where he addressed several national issues and his reported 2027 presidential ambition. His remarks have since sparked mixed reactions across social media.
Reacting in a statement issued on Monday, Onanuga said he switched off his television about 30 minutes into the interview, claiming it quickly became “a PR disaster.”
According to him, two aspects of Obi’s comments stood out.
The presidential spokesman said the first was Obi’s response to questions from interviewer Seun Okinbaloye regarding his movement across different political parties. Onanuga argued that Obi wrongly compared his political journey to that of President Bola Tinubu.
“Tinubu has not been jumping from one ideologically different party to another. Since he joined party politics in 1991/92, Tinubu has remained on the progressive path,” Onanuga said.
He added that Tinubu began his political career with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), where he won a Senate seat after securing what he described as the highest number of votes ever recorded by a candidate at the time.
Onanuga also faulted Obi’s insistence that he won the 2023 presidential election, saying the former Anambra governor finished third in the poll.
He argued that Obi’s electoral performance was largely driven by strong support from his ethnic base and maintained that the Supreme Court had already dismissed his petition challenging the election outcome.
Addressing Obi directly, Onanuga said it was time for the former presidential candidate to accept the outcome of the election and move on.
“Mr Obi, it is time you accepted the stark reality of the loss. Stop dreaming of a victory that you never had,” he stated.
BACKSTORY:
Bayo Onanuga’s comments followed an interview granted by Peter Obi on Channels Television, where the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate discussed national issues, his political career and his reported ambition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
During the interview, Obi defended his movement across political parties and maintained that he was the rightful winner of the 2023 presidential election, despite the Supreme Court upholding President Bola Tinubu’s victory. His remarks generated widespread debate on social media and drew reactions from political stakeholders.
Responding in a statement, Onanuga described the interview as a “PR disaster,” arguing that Obi’s comparison of his political journey with Tinubu’s was misleading and insisting that the former Anambra governor should accept the outcome of the 2023 election and move on.
