Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has dismissed allegations by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, that he attempted to recruit him into his 2023 presidential election campaign.
Obi described the claim as baseless and not worthy of a response, stressing that he had no dealings with Bwala and does not participate in what he called “transactional politics.”
The former Anambra State governor made the clarification in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, amid growing exchanges among political actors over issues surrounding the 2023 general election.
The statement said, “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.”
It further stated that Obi deliberately distances himself from individuals who promote transactional politics.
“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. The Obi that Nigerians know and appreciate will never engage in such practices,” the statement read.
According to the statement, Obi would rather channel resources toward developmental initiatives than engage in political deals.
“He would rather allocate resources to provide desks for children in Bwala’s village than pay him to concoct falsehoods for public consumption,” it added.
Obi’s aide also emphasized that the former governor’s political philosophy is focused on good governance and building a better society rather than paying individuals to support political causes.
The rebuttal follows claims by Bwala that Obi had attempted to enlist him in the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign.
Speaking in an interview with media personality Daddy Freeze, Bwala alleged that the request was conveyed through former President Olusegun Obasanjo during a meeting in London.
According to Bwala, the conversation took place at the Hilton Hotel where Obi’s running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, and other political stakeholders were present.
Bwala said that despite his respect for Obasanjo, he declined the alleged request. He also claimed that Ambassador Amuchi Osuk had been appointed by Obi’s team to coordinate early campaign activities.
The presidential aide further addressed speculation about his political stance at the time, noting that some critics assumed he would naturally support a Christian candidate rather than the Muslim-Muslim ticket eventually adopted by the ruling party.
The exchange adds to ongoing political debates between figures aligned with the current administration and opposition actors following the 2023 general election.
