The Presidency has taken a swipe at the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, saying his performance in the 2023 presidential election was driven largely by what it described as “noisy followers” on social media rather than a nationwide political structure.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said this in a statement issued on Monday, July 27, 2026, while reacting to Obi’s recent interview on Channels Television.
Onanuga said Obi performed creditably in the 2023 presidential election despite lacking an established political structure across the country.
“You did well in the election, no doubt – a politician with no structure in the states, except the noisy followers on X, Instagram, and Facebook,” Onanuga stated.
The presidential spokesman, however, criticised Obi for maintaining that he won the election despite the Supreme Court’s judgement affirming President Bola Tinubu’s victory.
According to Onanuga, Obi missed an opportunity during the television interview to accept the outcome of the election when asked whether he believed he had been rigged out.
He noted that more than three years after the Supreme Court dismissed Obi’s petition, the former Anambra State governor was still refusing to accept defeat.
‘Tinubu is unlike you, accept 2023 defeat’: Onanuga berates Obi over party defections
Onanuga urged Obi to acknowledge the election result and move on, saying continued claims of victory were inconsistent with the decisions of the courts and risked reinforcing what he described as false expectations among the former governor’s supporters.
Onanuga said: “You lost, Peter. You didn’t win that election. You came third, and if not for the bloc vote from your ethnic group, you would have ended up a miserable third. Seun pointedly asked you whether you believed you were rigged out. You fell into his trap by concurring.
“I was utterly surprised that more than three years after the Supreme Court threw away your petition, you are still in denial of the loss, and you still nurse the delusion that you won the election, echoing the sentiment of your gullible followers on the streets.
“Mr Obi, it is time you accepted the stark reality of the loss. Stop dreaming of a victory that you never had.”
