Peter Obi challenges Nigerians to scrutinise him, Kwankwaso

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has challenged Nigerians to publicly expose any wrongdoing they know he or his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, may have committed.

Obi made the challenge on Thursday 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.

The former Anambra State governor said he and Kwankwaso had made their personal backgrounds and records available for public scrutiny and verification.

“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.”

Obi’s comments come amid renewed public scrutiny of the backgrounds and records of major contenders ahead of the 2027 presidential election, including President Bola Tinubu and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

The debate has also extended to the educational records of some presidential candidates following the submission of their personal particulars to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in late July without their primary and secondary school certificates.

Obi also made a veiled reference to the defamation suit he filed against Kenneth Okonkwo, his former spokesperson during the 2023 presidential campaign, over alleged defamatory statements concerning their past dealings.

According to Obi, he instituted the legal action after Okonkwo claimed to possess information about his past that could shock Nigerians.

“We have sued somebody in court. He said he knows something he can say and the people will be shocked. I said I want you to say what people will be shocked about,” he said.

Obi then challenged Nigerians to produce evidence of any wrongdoing involving him.

“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.”

The former governor further argued that anyone aspiring to occupy a top political office must emerge through a credible and excellent process.

“You cannot continue to answer His Excellency when the process that got you there is not excellent,” Obi said.