The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has launched a blistering critique of former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, accusing him of hypocrisy and democratic inconsistency.

Speaking during a thanksgiving service in Abuja, Wike questioned Obi’s democratic credentials, pointing to his alleged refusal to conduct local government elections during his eight-year tenure as governor of Anambra State.

“Some of you said Peter Obi will be president. President where?” Wike asked, provoking audible murmurs from the congregation.
“You don’t know somebody; you just act out of emotion,” he added.

Wike, a former two-term governor of Rivers State, criticized Obi for governing without allowing local government autonomy—an act he said contradicts the democratic ideals Obi often champions.

“For eight years he was governor, he never conducted local government elections,” Wike stated.
“And Nigerians were not angry. You refused to conduct LG elections for eight good years. That is not democracy. 

The FCT Minister further accused Obi of only voicing concerns about Nigeria’s democracy because he is no longer in power.

“He’s now saying democracy is no longer working in Nigeria because he’s not in power,” Wike said.
“But when he was governor of Anambra, democracy was working? It worked in Anambra alone?”

He claimed Obi’s time in frontline politics had elapsed, emphatically dismissing the possibility of a future presidential run.

“The time has passed and you won’t have the opportunity again,” Wike declared.

Wike’s remarks come amid increasing political friction and growing public scrutiny over democratic processes in Nigeria, especially in the aftermath of the 2023 general elections. Peter Obi has been one of the most vocal critics of the electoral process, frequently raising concerns about governance, transparency, and electoral integrity.

However, Wike’s comments have reignited debates about Obi’s own record in public office and whether past governance actions align with his current political rhetoric 

Obi’s tenure as governor of Anambra State from 2006 to 2014 was marked by controversy over his refusal to conduct elections for local government councils, opting instead to appoint caretaker committees—a practice critics argue undermines democratic representation at the grassroots level.

The issue of local government autonomy has long been a contentious one in Nigerian politics, with many state governors accused of deliberately stalling elections to retain control over local administration and resources.