ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party Nigeria, Peter Obi, has denied allegations by Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that he sought his support during the 2023 presidential campaign.
Obi described the claim as baseless and inconsistent with his political principles, insisting he does not engage in what he termed transactional politics.
The clarification was contained in a statement issued Friday in Abuja by his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, who said the former Anambra State governor had no dealings with Bwala and would not associate with the kind of politics alleged.
According to the statement, the allegation would ordinarily not deserve a response but was addressed in the interest of preventing public misinformation.
“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 read.
Obi’s camp also criticised Bwala’s remarks, drawing a clear distinction between the former governor’s political approach and what it described as transactional tendencies in the Nigerian political space.
READ ALSO Peter Obi Faults Reps Over Vote-buying
“Obi has made it clear that he excludes individuals like Bwala from his political activities and any form of transactional politics that sustain people like him in political circles.
“He would rather allocate resources to provide desks for children in Bwala’s village than pay him to concoct falsehoods for public consumption,” the statement added.
The rebuttal concluded with a call on Bwala and others to focus on constructive national engagement.
“For the umpteenth time, we call on Bwala and others like him to count Obi out of their greed, repent, and join us in the quest for a new Nigeria,” the statement said.
The denial follows comments made by Bwala during an interview with On-Air Personality Daddy Freeze, where he alleged that Obi attempted to recruit him into the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign.
According to Bwala, the approach was made through former President Olusegun Obasanjo during a meeting held at the Hilton Hotel London.
He claimed that the meeting was attended by Obi, his 2023 running mate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, and other political stakeholders.
Bwala said he rejected the alleged overture despite his respect for the former president, maintaining that he chose not to participate in the campaign.
However, Obi’s camp insists the claim is false and urged the public to disregard it, reiterating that the former presidential candidate remains committed to principled politics and transparent leadership.