The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has challenged Nigerians to scrutinise his personal and educational background and publicly identify any wrongdoing he may have committed.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, also urged Nigerians to investigate the background and record of his running mate and former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
He made the challenge in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during a town hall meeting with voters tagged “Obi Talks Nigeria”, where he fielded questions on the 2027 general election.
Obi said he and Kwankwaso had made their personal and educational records available for public scrutiny, insisting that Nigerians should verify the information provided about them.
“I want to give every Nigerian the opportunity to know who I am,” Obi said.
“Both of us have presented our backgrounds, from our dates of birth to our schools, education and all, to the people. You can go and verify our backgrounds worldwide, anywhere.”
His comments come amid renewed scrutiny of the backgrounds, credentials and records of politicians positioning themselves for the 2027 presidential election.
Obi also made a veiled reference to his legal dispute with his former spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, over alleged defamatory claims relating to their dealings during the 2023 presidential campaign.
According to Obi, he instituted the legal action after Okonkwo claimed to have information about his past that could shock Nigerians.
“We have sued somebody in court. He said he knows something he can say that will shock people. I said I want you to say what people will be shocked about,” Obi said.
He subsequently challenged Nigerians and others across the world to produce evidence of any wrongdoing allegedly committed by him or Kwankwaso.
“And I’m challenging every Nigerian. If there is anything that you know I have done that is wrong, say it out now.
“I’m challenging the world over: if you know anything that Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has done that is wrong, say it out now,” he added.
Obi maintained that anyone seeking to occupy Nigeria’s highest political office must emerge through a credible, transparent and accountable process.
“You cannot continue to answer His Excellency when the process that got you there is not excellent,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kwankwaso has warned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against assuming that its large number of governors guarantees victory in the 2027 elections.
He reportedly cautioned that having more than 30 governors does not automatically translate into electoral victory, as the electorate would ultimately determine the outcome of the election.
