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The Peter Obi Media Office has defended the presidential ambition of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Peter Obi, saying his aspiration is backed by his record as governor of Anambra State and his experience in business and financial management.
The office made the submission in a statement issued on Sunday, September 13, 2026, and signed by Idris Zekeri Jnr.
It was responding to claims by supporters of President Bola Tinubu that Obi was overhyped and that his popularity and political ratings had been exaggerated.
The media office argued that Obi’s record in Anambra State provided Nigerians with a basis for assessing his capacity to govern at the national level.
It noted that Obi served as governor of Anambra State from 2006 to 2014, with interruptions arising from political and legal disputes surrounding his tenure.
According to the statement, Obi won re-election in 2010, completed his second term and was widely regarded by his supporters as a strong-performing governor.
The office identified fiscal discipline as one of the key features of his administration, citing savings and investments reportedly accumulated during his tenure.
It said Obi’s 2023 manifesto documented approximately $500 million in savings and investments, including $156 million in dollar-denominated bonds.
The media office said the figures demonstrated an approach to governance that prioritised saving and investment rather than spending available resources.
It also highlighted education as a major area of focus during Obi’s tenure, including the return of mission schools to their original owners and partnerships with them.
According to the statement, Anambra subsequently moved from 24th to first position in WAEC/NECO performance for three consecutive years.
The office further cited investments in scholarships, education, healthcare and poverty mapping as evidence of an administration that prioritised human capital development.
It said Obi’s government invested in health institutions and pursued accreditation, adding that more than 12 health institutions, including two hospitals, had secured accreditation by the end of his tenure.
The media office also pointed to Obi’s engagements with international development organisations, including the World Bank, UNDP, DFID and the European Union, as well as diplomatic engagements with foreign governments.
It said his administration introduced poverty mapping, aerial mapping and planning initiatives while developing the Anambra Integrated Development Strategy as a framework for coordinated development.
The statement also emphasised Obi’s experience in business and banking before entering politics, arguing that his private-sector and financial-management background complemented his experience in public administration.
The media office maintained that Obi’s presidential ambition should be assessed against his record in office rather than campaign promises alone.
“Peter Obi is not asking Nigerians to make him President so that he can learn how government works. He is asking Nigerians to entrust him with Nigeria after demonstrating, as Governor of Anambra, how he manages money, builds institutions, invests in human capital and plans for the future,” it said.
The office said Obi had therefore provided Nigerians with a record they could scrutinise in determining his suitability for the presidency.
It added that the central question was whether his record justified the popularity and political ratings he currently enjoys, rather than whether his political profile had been artificially promoted.
