ANAMBRA GOVERNMENT’S POST ON PETER OBI SPARKS ANGER AND POLITICAL REACTIONS

A fresh political controversy has erupted in Anambra State following a recent post by the state government targeting former governor and 2027 presidential candidate Peter Obi.

The post, published through the official X account managed by the New Media Office of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, urged voters to reject Obi in the 2027 presidential election. It accused the former governor of working against the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the party that produced him as governor.

In a message titled “A Betrayal Alert for Ndi APGA,” the government described voting for Obi and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a threat to APGA. It alleged that Obi had been working to weaken the party since leaving it in 2014.

The government also contrasted Obi’s position with that of President Bola Tinubu, claiming that Tinubu had stood with APGA while Obi supported opposition forces. It therefore urged APGA supporters to defend the party and resist the NDC.

The message has generated anger and heated reactions from sections of the public, particularly among Obi supporters who accused the Soludo administration of devoting excessive attention to the former governor instead of concentrating on governance and issues affecting residents.

Some critics questioned the decision to directly campaign against Obi while he remains one of the most influential political figures from Anambra. Others argued that voters should be allowed to make their own decisions at the ballot box without what they described as politically charged messaging from the state government.

The controversy is also connected to the longstanding political differences between Soludo and Obi. Their disagreements have included arguments over the financial position Obi left behind after his administration and competing claims about the former governor’s record in Anambra.

Meanwhile, the Soludo administration has maintained its support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Soludo has previously expressed confidence in Tinubu’s economic reforms and publicly backed his bid for another term.

The latest message has therefore intensified debate over whether Anambra’s political structure will remain firmly aligned with APGA or whether Obi’s personal popularity will continue to influence voters across the state.

For many observers, however, the most controversial aspect of the latest development is the direct appeal against Obi and the apparent preference for Tinubu. The message has transformed an already intense political rivalry into another major talking point ahead of 2027.

As the election approaches, the reactions demonstrate that the political contest involving Obi, Soludo, APGA and Tinubu is likely to remain highly contentious, particularly in Anambra, where Obi continues to command significant political attention.