Presidency Calls Peter Obi’s Channels TV Interview a PR Disaster, Warns He’s Not Far From Exit Door

Presidency Slams Peter Obi’s Channels TV Interview as PR Disaster

The Presidency has criticised the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, over his recent interview on Channels Television.

In a statement posted on 𝕏 on Monday, July 27, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the interview as a “PR disaster,” arguing that Obi failed to revive his political fortunes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Onanuga disagreed with Obi’s comparison of his movement across different political parties with Tinubu’s political journey, noting that Tinubu’s shifts remained within the same progressive ideological bloc.

He listed Tinubu’s party trajectory – from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) through Alliance for Democracy (AD), Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) – and argued that these moves were ideologically consistent.

By contrast, Onanuga labelled Obi a “political nomad,” accusing him of abandoning parties whenever they no longer served his interests and of seeking personal ambition rather than building institutions.

He said, “Having watched Peter Obi’s interview on Channels TV on Sunday for about 30 minutes, I wasted no time tuning off. If the political nomad thought the interview would re‑energise his ebbing 2027 presidential ambition, it turned out to be a PR disaster, judging from the spate of reactions to the many lies he referenced.”

Onanuga added that if the NDC fails to deliver what supporters want, Obi “is not far away from the exit door” and would “shamelessly migrate to yet another party,” emphasizing that he does not build but only wants to reap where he did not sow.

The spokesman also criticised Obi for refusing to accept the result of the 2023 presidential election, in which he finished third behind Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu.

He noted that the Channels Television interview gave Obi a golden opportunity to address the issue and demonstrate acceptance of the election outcome, which he allegedly failed to use.

Onanuga concluded that Obi’s pattern of moving from one platform to another shows a focus on personal political ambitions rather than strengthening political institutions.