By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Presidency has launched a fresh critique of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, following his formal defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing his political moves as inconsistent and his 2023 presidential ambition as “ill-fated.”
Reacting to Obi’s latest switch on his X handle account on Thursday , the Special Adviser (Information and Strategy), Bayo Onanuga noted that nearly three years after the 2023 general election, the former Anambra State governor continues to express dissatisfaction over the outcome, insisting he was denied victory.
According to him, available empirical analyses of the election showed that Obi could not have won the poll and was “fortunate” to have finished third, citing what it described as anomalous voting figures recorded in parts of the South East.
The Presidency further characterised Obi as a “wandering politician,” pointing to his movement from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), then the Labour Party, and now the ADC. It argued that his public remarks at the defection event reflected lingering bitterness over the election results.
Officials also criticised Obi’s frequent references to foreign books, academics, and international examples, which he uses to argue that Nigeria should adopt models from countries such as Indonesia and the United States.
The Presidency dismissed this approach as simplistic, insisting that national development cannot be achieved by “copying and pasting” foreign solutions, but rather through homegrown ideas tailored to Nigeria’s unique realities.
In a sharp assessment of Obi’s record, the Presidency questioned his leadership credentials, describing his eight-year tenure as governor of Anambra State as unimpressive and insufficient preparation for leading a complex country like Nigeria.
In contrast, the Presidency highlighted what it described as significant achievements under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since his inauguration on May 29, 2023. These include the removal of petrol subsidies, economic restructuring, reduced dependence on oil revenues, increased focus on gas development, rising foreign reserves, exchange rate stabilisation, and a gradual slowdown in inflation.
The Tinubu administration, the statement said, has also embarked on major infrastructure projects such as the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, alongside tax reforms set to commence in January aimed at harmonising the tax system, boosting revenue, and increasing the tax-to-GDP ratio.
According to the Presidency, these policies and reforms demonstrate decisive and strategic leadership, which it claims Obi has failed to acknowledge due to political animosity. It further suggested that Obi’s move to the ADC could see him playing a secondary role ahead of the 2027 elections, drawing parallels with his vice-presidential candidacy in 2019.
The Presidency concluded that President Tinubu’s record over the past two years and seven months reflects a commitment to long-term national development anchored on original policies and bold reforms.
