NDC fires back at Tinubu over wealth management, defends Obi record

The Nigerian Democratic Congress has launched a counterattack against President Bola Tinubu's recent criticism of Peter Obi, shifting the debate from environmental management to fiscal responsibility. The party's national campaign council responded to Tinubu's comments made during an Akwa Ibom State rally on Friday, where the president drew a contrast between his infrastructure work as Lagos governor and Obi's record as Anambra State chief executive.

Rather than engage on the erosion question, the NDC pivoted to attack the federal government's financial practices. Party officials questioned what has become of the expected revenue gains from the removal of fuel subsidies, pointing to a contradiction between anticipated savings and the administration's repeated requests for new loans.

They also highlighted what they describe as inadequate funding for critical sectors including healthcare and education, framing these as symptoms of broader wealth mismanagement. The NDC positioned Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as the remedy for what the party characterizes as erosion of Nigeria's commonwealth.

The party's national campaign council spokesperson, Dr Chiogo Constance Ikokwu, issued a statement on Saturday defending Obi's governance credentials and asserting that reversing economic deterioration would be central to an opposition administration's agenda. Tinubu had used the comparison to highlight his own track record on major infrastructure projects, suggesting Obi lacked similar accomplishments.

The NDC response reframed the discussion around macroeconomic policy and debt levels rather than state-level development projects. The exchange marks an escalation in campaign rhetoric ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with both sides now trading accusations about resource stewardship and public investment priorities.