- Peter Obi dismissed Daniel Bwala’s claim that he tried to recruit him for the 2023 presidential campaign
- Obi’s media aide said the allegation was baseless and inconsistent with Obi’s political principles
- The statement emphasised Obi’s focus on good governance and rejection of transactional politics
Former Peter Obi on Friday 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 campaign.
Obi, speaking through his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, described the claim as baseless and insisted he had no dealings with Bwala, emphasising that he would not engage in what he termed “transactional politics.”
The statement, issued in Abuja, 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.
“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. He would rather allocate resources to provide desks for children in Bwala’s village than pay him to concoct falsehoods for public consumption.”
The statement emphasised that Obi’s political approach is grounded in the pursuit of good governance and building a better society, noting that he seeks to inspire collective vision rather than rely on financial inducements. “For the umpteenth time, we call on Bwala and others like him to count Obi out of their greed, repent, and join us in the quest for a new Nigeria,” it added.
The rebuttal comes in response to claims by Bwala, who told On-Air Personality Daddy Freeze that Obi attempted to enlist him in the Labour Party’s 2023 campaign. According to Bwala, the overture was reportedly conveyed through former Olusegun Obasanjo during a meeting at the Hilton Hotel in London with Obi’s running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, and other political stakeholders.
Bwala further claimed that he declined the approach, despite his respect for Obasanjo, and added that Ambassador Amuchi Osuk had been appointed by Obi’s team to oversee early campaign activities.
The aide also addressed speculation surrounding Bwala’s political stance at the time, highlighting assumptions that he would naturally support a Christian candidate instead of the Muslim-Muslim ticket fielded by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The exchange adds to ongoing political sparring between actors aligned with the current administration and opposition figures following the 2023 elections.