Onanuga Tells Obi to Stop Claiming 2023 Election Victory

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has criticised former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi over his continued insistence that he won the 2023 presidential election, urging him to accept the outcome affirmed by the courts. The remarks followed Obi's recent interview on Channels Television, where he maintained that the election did not reflect the will of the Nigerian people.

In a statement shared on his verified X account, Onanuga described Obi's television appearance as a "public relations disaster," arguing that it failed to revive his political momentum ahead of the 2027 general election. He accused the former Anambra State governor of making misleading claims about his political career and the outcome of the last presidential poll.

Onanuga also faulted Obi's comparison of his movement across political parties with President Bola Tinubu's political journey. According to him, Tinubu has remained within the progressive political tradition throughout his career, while Obi has repeatedly switched parties in pursuit of his political ambitions. He insisted that Obi should stop claiming victory in an election where he finished behind other candidates.

The presidential aide further argued that the Supreme Court had already settled the dispute over the 2023 election by affirming Tinubu's victory. He urged Obi to accept the court's judgment and focus on future political engagements rather than revisiting issues that have already been legally determined.

The latest exchange reflects the increasingly heated political rhetoric ahead of the 2027 general election, with the Presidency and opposition figures continuing to clash over the legacy of the 2023 presidential contest and the country's political direction.