Obi Cannot Be Trusted with Presidency Over Refusal to Stand for National Anthem — Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, cannot be trusted with Nigeria’s presidency following his conduct during a national anthem recital at a political gathering in Lagos.

Wike made the remarks on Friday, November 13, 2026, while addressing a stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The meeting was organised by the Rainbow Coalition to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates.

The minister was reacting to an incident at an NDC town hall meeting in Lagos on Thursday, where Obi, alongside the party’s Lagos governorship candidate, Funso Doherty, and other supporters, declined to stand for the current national anthem, ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’.

The attendees subsequently sang the former national anthem, ‘Arise, O Compatriots’, which was replaced in May 2024 following the signing of the National Anthem Act by President Tinubu.

Wike questioned Obi’s conduct, alleging that the former Anambra State governor remained seated during the current anthem but stood when the former version was played.

“A whole national anthem of a country is being sung. A man who wants to be President of Nigeria would disobey and sit down. And then, not only that, when a different national anthem that is not being used for Nigeria was sung, he stood up,” Wike said.

He further argued that the incident raised questions about Obi’s commitment to national unity.

“A man who does not believe in Nigeria, someone who derives joy in ridiculing the country by disrespecting its symbolic National Anthem, must not be allowed to come near the presidency of our country,” he added.

Wike also criticised Obi’s political history, accusing him of leaving political parties whenever internal disagreements emerged instead of remaining to resolve them.

The minister further faulted Obi for not conducting local government elections throughout his eight-year tenure as Anambra State governor, describing the alleged failure as inconsistent with his position on the rule of law.

Obi has not been reported to have publicly responded to Wike’s latest comments as of the time of this report.

The controversy has generated fresh debate over the national anthem, political conduct and the responsibilities of public office seekers ahead of the 2027 general elections.