Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), spoke to his supporters in the UK on Sunday. In a clip that spread fast on social media, he was heard telling Nigerians abroad to stop handing money to people back home who keep asking for help. He argued that such handouts may ease pain for a moment but do not fix the real problem, which he blamed on weak leadership and the way public funds are managed. He also said Nigerians abroad should encourage their relatives to vote for candidates with a record of handling public money responsibly.
The reaction came quickly. Many Nigerians online said the advice was unfair to families who depend on money from abroad for school fees, hospital bills, rent and food. Others called the choice of words poor for a man who wants to be president. Reports say the backlash also drew sharp responses from rival political groups including the LP, NNPP and SDP.
By Tuesday, Obi had issued a statement on X titled “My Message Has Been Twisted.” He denied asking anyone abroad to abandon their loved ones. He said he deeply appreciates diaspora Nigerians for the sacrifices they make, and he listed the everyday needs their money covers. According to him, his real point is about a country that relies too heavily on remittances to survive, and he said he is fighting for a Nigeria that no longer abandons its own people.
The Presidency did not let it rest. Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, criticised Obi’s remarks and his clarification. Bwala accused the NDC candidate of putting political ambition ahead of the welfare of families, and he told voters to weigh the controversy when judging Obi’s fitness for office. Tribune Online headlined the reaction with the phrase “wickedness of the wicked.”
Another presidential aide, Dada Olusegun, who handles social media for President Tinubu, also rejected the idea that the message was misunderstood. He said the clip was clear and accused Obi of running a divisive campaign.
The fight shows how much the diaspora vote and the diaspora wallet now matter to both sides. Money sent home by Nigerians abroad supports millions of households, so any comment about it touches a very sensitive nerve. For the Obi camp, the task now is to move the conversation from one clip to the full speech. For the Presidency and other rivals, the video is a gift they are in no hurry to return.
Political watchers say the outcome may depend on which version of the story voters believe, the short viral clip or the longer explanation. What is certain is that the 2027 campaign has found a new battleground, and it stretches from Manchester to every family compound in Nigeria.
