Peter Obi has rejected claims by Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, that he attempted to bring him into his campaign during the 2023 presidential election
The former Labour Party presidential candidate described the allegation as unworthy of a response, stating that he had no political relationship with Bwala and does not participate in what he termed “transactional politics.”
Obi’s position was conveyed in a statement released on Friday in Abuja by his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, following ongoing exchanges among political figures regarding the 2023 general election.
The statement read, “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.
“Obi’s approach is rooted in the pursuit of good governance and the creation of a better society for all. He does not pay people to promote a cause; instead, he invites them to join him in believing in a shared vision. 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.”
The response followed remarks by Bwala, who recently alleged that Obi had tried to recruit him into the Labour Party’s campaign ahead of the 2023 election.
During an interview with media personality Daddy Freeze, Bwala claimed the request was relayed through former President Olusegun Obasanjo during a meeting in London.
According to him, the discussion took place at the Hilton Hotel, where Obasanjo met with Obi’s running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, along with other political figures.
Bwala said he turned down the proposal despite his respect for the former president. He also alleged that Ambassador Amuchi Osuk had been assigned by Obi’s camp to oversee the early stages of the campaign.
He further addressed claims about his political alignment at the time, noting that some critics assumed he would back a Christian candidate rather than the Muslim-Muslim ticket later adopted by the ruling All Progressives Congress.
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