The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has challenged Peter Obi to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if he is unable to substantiate his claims about the 2023 presidential election and address allegations that his administration in Anambra State left behind financial liabilities.
The challenge was issued by the council’s spokesman, Dele Alake, who criticised the former Labour Party presidential candidate for insisting that he won the 2023 presidential election despite reportedly acknowledging that he had no evidence to support the claim.
Obi, who is now associated with the National Democratic Congress (NDC), reiterated his position during a BBC interview, saying, “I won the last election. There’s no evidence, but I won the election. Everything is not based on evidence.”
Reacting to the remarks, Alake described Obi’s comments as troubling, accusing him of disregarding facts and verifiable evidence in his argument about the outcome of the election.
The APC spokesman questioned Obi’s credibility as a presidential aspirant, arguing that political leaders seeking public office should be able to support their claims with verifiable facts.
He also accused the former Anambra State governor of making exaggerated assertions without sufficient substantiation.
APC Insists Tinubu Won the 2023 Presidential Election
Alake maintained that President Bola Tinubu legitimately won the 2023 presidential election, pointing to the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and subsequent court decisions affirming the result.
INEC declared Tinubu the winner with 8,794,726 votes. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), finished second with 6,984,520 votes, while Obi came third with 6,101,533 votes as the Labour Party candidate.
Following the announcement, Obi and the Labour Party challenged the outcome at the Presidential Election Petition Court, alleging electoral irregularities and non-compliance with electoral laws.
However, the tribunal dismissed their petition on September 6, 2023, and upheld Tinubu’s victory. The Supreme Court subsequently dismissed Obi’s appeal on October 26, 2023, affirming the lower court’s decision.
Despite the legal outcomes, Obi has continued to maintain that he won the election. During his BBC interview, he stood by his position when questioned about his allegation that the poll had been rigged, although he indicated that he did not want to revisit the past.
APC Renews Call for Obi to Withdraw From 2027 Race
Beyond the dispute over the 2023 election, the APC Presidential Campaign Council renewed its demand that Obi honour an alleged earlier pledge to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if it was established that his administration in Anambra State had left behind financial liabilities.
Alake said the council believed state financial records supported its position that liabilities had been left behind by the former governor’s administration.
“We again call on Peter Obi to act honourably and honour his earlier pledge to exit the 2027 presidential race if it is proven that his administration left behind liabilities in Anambra State—a fact now clearly established by the state’s financial records,” the statement said.
The demand introduces another point of political contention ahead of the 2027 general election, with the APC campaign council questioning Obi’s record in office and his continued insistence on the outcome of the previous presidential poll.
However, the allegation concerning Anambra State’s financial liabilities remains the APC council’s position and should be distinguished from the separate legal decisions on the 2023 presidential election.
Oshiomhole Says Peter Obi Is Not His Enemy
Meanwhile, former Edo State governor and senator Adams Oshiomhole has said he does not regard Obi as an enemy despite their political differences and his criticism of the former Anambra governor’s record in office.
Oshiomhole made the clarification during an interview with Symfoni TV on Thursday, explaining that the two politicians had experienced political opposition while serving as governors under different political parties.
“Peter Obi is not my enemy. We both suffered at some point as governors. I was ACN, he was APGA. We were both oppressed by PDP federal might,” Oshiomhole said.
The senator explained that he had invited Obi to Edo State to commission a project because he believed political disagreements should not prevent public officials from recognising development efforts.
He stressed that the invitation was not an endorsement of Obi’s political ambitions, adding that he had also extended similar invitations to other governors across the country.
Oshiomhole said he remained comfortable with his decision and urged the public not to interpret political disagreements as evidence of personal hostility.
His comments offer a contrasting perspective on the relationship between the two politicians, coming amid renewed criticism of Obi by APC figures ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Political Tensions Build Ahead of 2027
The exchange highlights the growing political debate surrounding Obi’s presidential ambitions, his assessment of the 2023 election and questions about his record as governor of Anambra State.
While the APC campaign council is pressing him to withdraw from the 2027 contest over the alleged liabilities, Obi’s continued insistence that he won the previous election remains a point of disagreement between him and his political opponents.
Oshiomhole’s remarks, meanwhile, suggest that political criticism does not necessarily translate into personal animosity, even as political actors position themselves for the next general election.