Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has declared that the political career of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, effectively ended after the 2023 general elections. Bwala made the remarks during an interview on The Clarity Zone Podcast, asserting that Obi is no longer a significant figure in Nigeria’s political landscape.
“Like I said, if you check around the world, all political leaders that were able to move came with a purpose and a vision, and they built a structure. Peter Obi did not do that. At the moment, he is not a subject in the political terrain. His career ended in 2023,” Bwala said.
Also Read:Bwala Accuses Atiku, El-Rufai of Fueling Tinubu Drug Allegation Reports
He added that Obi benefitted from a unique situation during the 2023 elections, where religious and political dynamics favored him temporarily. “He rode on an opportunity that presented itself in 2023, where one political party carried a Muslim Vice Presidential candidate. This led to apathy among the Christian community, and Obi moved them. But the majority of that same community has now returned to President Bola Tinubu,” Bwala explained.
Peter Obi Compared to Premier League Football Players
In the same interview, Bwala likened Peter Obi to Premier League football players who change clubs every season, describing him as a political opportunist and actor. He criticized Obi for switching parties multiple times—from APGA to PDP, then to Labour Party, and now ADC—while accusing him of failing to maintain political structures or loyal followers.
“Of all the political gladiators in Nigeria, the one who is an actor is Peter Obi. After the 2023 election, he lost everybody he was leading. His House of Representatives members and Senators are gone. The only governor he had either joined him or aligned elsewhere,” Bwala said.
He further accused Obi’s followers on social media of hypocrisy, noting that they attack others for switching political parties while excusing Obi’s own party changes. “He claims to be building a movement, but a movement means departing from the norm and inspiring loyalty. This is not what we are seeing. Obi’s movement is not sustainable,” Bwala added.
Political Opportunism and Future Prospects
Bwala concluded that Obi’s inability to maintain political alliances and his frequent party changes undermine his credibility. “He will not get a quarter of the votes he got in 2023. He did not build a sustainable political structure, and most of his support has returned to Bola Tinubu,” he said.
