RismadarVoice Reporters,March 13, 2026
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has dismissed allegations by President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, that he attempted to recruit him into his campaign during the 2023 general elections.
Obi, in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja through his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, said the claim did not deserve a response, stressing that he had no political dealings with Bwala and would not engage in what he described as “transactional politics.”
“Normally, we would not dignify Bwala’s baseless accusations with a reply, given his well-documented history of dishonesty. However, we feel it is necessary to address this matter for the benefit of the public, who may be misled,” the statement said.
The former Anambra State governor maintained that his political philosophy is centred on good governance and shared vision rather than inducement. According to the statement, Obi would rather channel resources into social interventions, such as providing learning facilities for children, than pay individuals to promote political narratives.
He also urged Bwala and others to “count Obi out of their greed, repent, and join in the quest for a new Nigeria,” reiterating his commitment to issue-based politics.
The rebuttal followed recent remarks by Bwala during an interview with media personality, Daddy Freeze, in which he alleged that Obi had sought his involvement in the Labour Party’s presidential campaign.
Bwala claimed that the approach was conveyed through former President Olusegun Obasanjo during a meeting in London attended by Obi’s running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, and other political stakeholders. He said he declined the overture despite his respect for Obasanjo and further alleged that Ambassador Amuchi Osuk had been appointed to coordinate early campaign activities.
The presidential aide also addressed speculation surrounding his political alignment at the time, noting that some critics expected him to support a Christian presidential candidate rather than the Muslim-Muslim ticket eventually adopted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The exchange highlights ongoing political disagreements between figures aligned with the current administration and opposition actors in the aftermath of the 2023 elections.
