Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi has firmly rejected claims that he encourages members of the Obidient movement to insult leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) opposition coalition.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Obidient Movement secretariat, Obi said abuses and name-calling circulating online and in his name were not reflective of his values or political conduct.
“Let me tell you here, most of the things you hear… criminals that are not Obidient people. You don’t see anybody calling the other a bad name. We are not asking for division, I personally do not in any way… you have never seen me call anybody a bad name,” he said, underscoring his position.
Obi highlighted the strong, respectful relationships he maintains with key figures within the ADC, describing some as elder brothers, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and others. He stressed that mutual respect should define the opposition’s politics, rejecting any sanction for attacks or insults.
“We are in the ADC and respect everybody there. But as for calling people bad names, we are not in support of it. I don’t subscribe to it and I am not part of it,” Obi added.
The former Anambra governor also blamed some elements for trying to exploit his name to sow discord, urging supporters to focus on pressing national issues such as unemployment, insecurity, and the plight of out-of-school children.
Obi’s remarks come amid internal tensions within the ADC coalition, with divisions emerging over ambitions and direction ahead of the 2027 elections.
