Peter Obi Leads Rejection of New National Anthem in Lagos

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), publicly rejected Nigeria's new national anthem during a town hall meeting in Lagos on Thursday. Alongside Funso Doherty, the NDC governorship candidate, Obi led a demonstration where they and their supporters refused to recite the new anthem, instead opting to recite the old anthem in unison.

This act of rejection was premeditated, as both Obi and Doherty visibly guided the crowd. The new national anthem, which replaced the post-independence anthem "Arise O Compatriots," was officially adopted in May 2024 after being signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.

The change faced criticism for lacking public consultation. The Lagos event is part of the NDC's early campaign activities for the 2027 general elections, for which Obi was ratified as the party's presidential candidate on May 29, 2026.