* Says political leaders ought to debate information, insurance policies not private assaults
Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
The Peter Obi Media Office has criticised Vice-President Kashim Shettima over his description of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, as “diminished,” urging political leaders to give attention to candidates’ information, insurance policies and concepts relatively than private assaults.
In an announcement issued Sunday by its spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr, the media workplace described the comment as inconsistent with the requirements of political engagement anticipated of leaders, notably at a time when political events are positioning themselves forward of the 2027 normal election.
The workplace took exception to what it thought of a distinction between Shettima’s name for northerners to respect former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, an opposition determine, and his description of Obi, one other opposition chief.
“Although Shettima has the right to oppose Obi, it is difficult to understand why he would demand respect for one opposition leader while casually dismissing another,” the assertion mentioned.
It added that political disagreements mustn’t stop public officers from recognising the contributions and political standing of their opponents.
The media workplace mentioned Obi had maintained a marketing campaign targeted on points and had averted abusive language in opposition to political opponents.
“As a man of great decency, our candidate has conducted his campaign professionally and decorously. He has consistently focused his remarks on issues and has neither discussed nor used abusive language against anyone,” it mentioned.
The assertion additionally drew consideration to the information of Obi and Shettima as former governors of Anambra and Borno States, respectively, arguing that their respective performances ought to be assessed in opposition to verifiable proof relatively than political rhetoric.
“However, Obi’s performance in Anambra State across key areas of governance surpassed Shettima’s record in Borno State, as demonstrated by performance statistics and the awards he received,” the workplace mentioned.
It cited Obi’s document in fiscal administration and investments in schooling and healthcare as areas that, in its view, distinguished his administration.
The workplace, nonetheless, didn’t present comparative statistics within the assertion to substantiate its evaluation of the 2 former governors’ performances.
It challenged the vice-president and different political opponents to interrogate Obi’s document utilizing verifiable details and figures in the event that they disagreed with the evaluation.
“If Shettima contests any aspect of Obi’s record, he should present the facts rather than resort to political name-calling,” the assertion added.
The media workplace mentioned the controversy raised broader questions on political civility, the remedy of opposition figures and the duty of public officers to maintain issue-based debate in Nigeria’s democratic course of.
It additionally appealed to political leaders from the South-east, together with these within the All Progressives Congress (APC), to differentiate political loyalty from their duty to uphold mutual respect amongst political actors.
The assertion urged South-east political leaders who assist the APC to mirror on the implications of the trade, notably the place they consider that criticism of an opposition politician from their area is inconsistent with the remedy accorded different political figures.
It mentioned disagreements over social gathering affiliation mustn’t turn out to be grounds for tolerating what it considers disrespectful language in opposition to fellow Nigerians.
“We urge Igbo leaders in the APC and all Nigerians to draw the appropriate lesson from this episode and note that political loyalty must never justify tolerating disrespect towards a fellow Nigerian,” the assertion mentioned.
The workplace maintained that political competitors ought to present a possibility for candidates and their supporters to look at competing information, coverage proposals and governing philosophies.
“Those who oppose Obi should scrutinise his ideas and record rather than resort to personal abuse,” it mentioned.
“Nigeria needs a contest based on records and ideas, not selective respect and political denigration.”
The media workplace additional argued that Obi’s political relevance ought to finally be decided by voters relatively than by feedback from political opponents.
“The Nigerian people, rather than Shettima’s rhetoric, will determine Peter Obi’s political relevance,” it mentioned.
The assertion, dated October 18, 2026, was signed by Zekeri on behalf of the Peter Obi Media Office.
The improvement comes as political events and their main figures intensify their positioning forward of the 2027 normal election, with the conduct of political campaigns, the credibility of candidates and the tone of public debate anticipated to function prominently within the contest.
While political leaders are entitled to criticise opponents and problem their information in workplace, the trade underscores the significance of substantiating political claims with proof and sustaining a distinction between reputable criticism and private disparagement.
For the NDC presidential candidate and his supporters, the central argument is that Obi’s document as a former governor ought to be judged on its deserves. For his political opponents, the problem is to current competing proof and coverage alternate options able to persuading voters.
Ultimately, the controversy over the information of former governors and their suitability for nationwide management is prone to stay a part of the broader political contest because the 2027 election approaches.
