RismadarVoice Reporters
November 15, 2026
The media office of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has accused two federal ministers, Nyesom Wike and Festus Keyamo, of using their official positions to engage in partisan political confrontations.
The criticism followed remarks by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development concerning the singing of Nigeria’s former national anthem at an NDC town hall meeting in Lagos.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the spokesperson for Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), Idris Zekeri, condemned what the organisation described as the ministers’ involvement in political disputes at the expense of their responsibilities to Nigerians.
Zekeri argued that public office should not be used to intimidate political opponents or advance personal and partisan interests.
He maintained that government officials were appointed to serve the public and should exercise restraint when responding to opposition figures.
The controversy began after Wike accused Obi of disrespecting Nigeria’s national symbols by allegedly refusing to stand for the current national anthem during the Lagos gathering.
Speaking at a political meeting in Rivers State on Friday, Wike questioned Obi’s commitment to national unity and criticised his suitability for the presidency.
Keyamo subsequently challenged the NDC over the incident, arguing that replacing the legally recognised anthem with the former version raised questions about the party’s position on national identity.
He also demanded clarification from the party’s leadership.
Responding, Obi’s media office rejected what it described as attempts to equate political disagreement with a lack of patriotism.
The organisation argued that patriotism should be demonstrated through public service, accountability, respect for democratic institutions and commitment to citizens’ welfare.
It further maintained that no political party or individual had exclusive authority to determine who qualified as patriotic.
POMR accused the ministers of diverting attention from pressing national challenges, including insecurity, unemployment, poverty and the rising cost of living.
The NDC had earlier defended the Lagos incident, explaining that the rendition of the former national anthem was spontaneous and not an organised attempt to reject Nigeria’s national identity.
The party also maintained that the current anthem was sung by some participants at the gathering.
While the ministers have publicly criticised Obi’s conduct, the allegation that they misused government institutions has not been independently established.
The exchange reflects growing political tensions between the ruling APC and opposition figures ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election.
