I’ll Never Abuse Tinubu, He Has My Respect – Peter Obi

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said he would never insult or abuse President Bola Tinubu, stressing that he respects the office of the President.

Obi made the remarks on Friday at the 2026 All Nigeria Editors’ Conference in Enugu, where he spoke on the need for political disagreements to centre on policies and performance rather than personal attacks.

The conference, organised around the theme, “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” brought together editors and other stakeholders in the media industry.

Obi said he had never engaged in personal attacks against public officials and would continue to maintain respect for those occupying public offices.

“I cannot abuse any governor. I cannot abuse anybody in government. I don’t need to abuse people even in the federal government. I’ve never abused anybody. Who has seen me calling President Tinubu’s name? Never! I will not do that. He’s the President of the country, he has all my respect,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor, however, noted that respect for public office holders should not prevent citizens and the media from scrutinising their decisions and assessing their performance.

He urged editors to critically examine political leaders based on their records, public statements and qualifications, stressing that the character and conduct of leaders could influence the values of the wider society.