Peter Obi: I never said I will run for office in 2027

Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party, has debunked reports claiming he hinted at becoming Nigeria’s president in 2027.

Obi, who is still in court to challenge the result of the 2023 election that produced Bola Tinubu as president, labelled the reports fake.

He noted that he also did not comment on the prospective appointees into the Federal Government.

Speaking on Saturday, Mr. Obi said: “I have noticed with dismay, an emerging pattern where fake media reports and news items are predicated on interviews and press remarks I never granted. Two recent instances relate to my saying that I am looking forward to running for office in 2027 on a supposed Arise TV interview that never took place.

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“The other is about my reaction to prospective appointees into the Federal Government. Both reports are bogus. Regrettably, our politics have sunken to this abysmal level where manipulation of the media space is now a trade.

“For me, I shall continue to speak on topical national issues via recognized news and media outfits. But I certainly will not concern myself with cheap distractive trolls. My focus and that of the Obidient Movement will not derail from the original mission of creating a new Nigeria which we believe is POssible. Our emphasis has never been on political positions or personal aggrandizement, but on putting the nation on the right footing and deepening our democracy by helping to elevate and empower the downtrodden in our society. That was why our messages during the electioneering campaigns were all issue-driven.”

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Prior to Obi’s statement on Saturday, the Labour Party had also debunked the reports.

“Our attention has been drawn to a publication in the Daily Post and some social media networks on an interview granted by His Excellency Peter Obi to Arise tv.

“We want to quickly point out that this is the highest level of yellow journalism taken too far all in a bid to change the narrative as there was no time HEPO granted such a nebulous interview to Arise tv.

“For all avoidance of doubt, HEPO did not at anytime grant such an interview to any media organisation in Nigeria or outside the country. Please note!,” a spokesman of Labour Party presidential campaign council, Dr Yunusa Tanko stated.