Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said he will no longer respond to attacks, allegations or criticisms from political surrogates ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Obi’s position was contained in a statement issued by his media office and signed by its spokesperson, Idris Zekeri Jnr, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the former Anambra State governor will restrict his responses to presidential candidates whose names will appear on the ballot, rather than engage individuals acting on behalf of political contenders.
The media office accused some political surrogates of making allegations and what it described as fabrications in an effort to attract attention to their principals.
It argued that the 2027 presidential election should focus on candidates seeking the mandate of Nigerians and not individuals representing them in public exchanges.
The statement maintained that Obi was prepared to defend his record, explain his policies and engage directly with other presidential candidates on issues affecting the country.
It consequently challenged other contenders to adopt the same approach by presenting their records and policy proposals directly to Nigerians.
The media office said candidates seeking the presidency should be prepared to answer questions about their previous records and explain how they intend to address the country’s challenges.
It also criticised the practice of political candidates relying on surrogates to attack opponents while remaining removed from the ensuing public debate.
According to Obi’s media team, disagreements over policies or political records should be addressed directly by the candidates involved rather than through representatives.
The statement therefore called on any presidential candidate with concerns about Obi to raise them publicly and engage him directly.
The media office said Obi would not participate in what it described as an arrangement in which candidates remain in the background while political surrogates engage opponents.
It maintained that voters deserve direct communication from individuals seeking their mandate, particularly as the country moves closer to the 2027 presidential election.
The latest position follows Obi’s repeated calls for presidential candidates to subject their records and policy proposals to public scrutiny.
At the formal commencement of his 2027 campaign in August, Obi challenged other presidential contenders to defend their records and explain their plans to Nigerians.
The development comes amid increasing political activity among opposition parties and presidential aspirants as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has published the list of presidential candidates for the election, with Obi listed among those seeking the presidency.
Obi’s latest position could further shape the nature of political exchanges ahead of the election, particularly as candidates and their supporters increasingly engage in public debates over records, policies and leadership credentials.
The former Anambra governor has continued to position himself as a candidate focused on direct engagement with Nigerians and policy-driven political debate.
His media office concluded that the election should be determined by voters based on the candidates, their records and their proposed solutions to Nigeria’s challenges, rather than by the activities of political surrogates.
