Following the February 25 presidential election, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has found himself at the centre of a storm of controversy. In a recent analysis, Adebayo Folorunsho‑Francis examines the drama that climaxed with an audio recording that Obi has described as fake. Whether loved or loathed, Obi has reshaped the narrative of the election, highlighting the votes and results he amassed across various polls. The Labour Party can now count seven senators‑elect and 34 House of Representatives‑elect awaiting inauguration, many of whom rode on Obi’s popularity to win their seats.
Despite lacking a robust party structure and losing the presidential race in what political pundits called a controversial manner, Obi’s performance—especially in Lagos—was an unexpected earthquake. His message of transparency and accountability resonated with millennials and Gen‑Z voters under the “Obidient” movement. While he decimated the Peoples Democratic Party’s stronghold in the South‑East and South, his “happy‑ending” ambition was thwarted by poor results in the North‑West and North‑East, which proved to be his Achilles’ heel. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) standard‑bearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with 8,794,726 votes, defeating PDP candidate Atiku Abubakar (6,984,520 votes) and Obi (6,101,533 votes). Both Atiku and Obi rejected INEC’s results, claiming the election was marred by violence and massive rigging. A tearful Obi, alleging that INEC failed to display results in real time, announced on several political programmes that he would reclaim his “stolen” mandate through the courts.
Obi’s vice‑presidential candidate, Datti Baba‑Ahmed, also faced criticism after appearing on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” and making incendiary remarks. The North‑West politician warned former President Muhammadu Buhari not to hand over power to Tinubu on May 29, saying it would signal “the end of democracy.” He further called the INEC certificate of return a “dud cheque” and argued that Tinubu’s failure to secure 25 % of votes in the Federal Capital Territory warranted cancellation of the poll. Baba‑Ahmed’s statements led to a N5 million fine for the TV station by the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), following a petition from APC Presidential Campaign Council media director Bayo Onanuga, who accused the station of insufficiently curbing the remarks.
Amid these tensions, the Defence Headquarters and the Directorate of State Service warned of political elements pushing for the cancellation of the May 29 hand‑over ceremony and the establishment of an interim national government by the outgoing administration. While the Presidential Elections Petition Tribunal had not yet begun proceedings, the drama took another turn when a leaked phone conversation allegedly between Obi and Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, surfaced. The audio, purportedly recorded days before the February 25 poll, captured Obi pleading for Oyedepo’s help in securing Christian support in the South‑West and Kwara State. Obi allegedly described the 2023 election as a “religious war” that needed to be won, to which the bishop responded, “In Jesus’ name, we are going to get a bright tomorrow.” Obi’s reply, “Amen, Daddy… if this works, you people will never regret the support,” was also captured.
Obi’s spokesperson Kenneth Okonkwo partially acknowledged the conversation but claimed it had been doctored to portray the Labour Party candidate as a religious and ethnic bigot. Another aide, Valentine Obienyem, blamed an unnamed “Nnewi prodigal brother” for the leak, a person who remains unidentified. Former Goodluck Jonathan aide Reno Omokri, a vocal critic of Obi, seized on the audio, using satirical tweets to mock the former governor and label him a “liar” and “desperate.” Whether edited or not, the recording has become a tool for trolling Obi and undermining his team’s morale as they prepare to challenge the election outcome in court.
The leak reignited the voices of APC supporters, who had been subdued by the “Obidient” movement. The slang “woto‑woto,” meaning “heavy” or “monstrous,” entered the discourse as APC apologists and LP critics launched a barrage of social‑media attacks. In response, Bishop Oyedepo, during a Sunday sermon the day after the leak, asserted that he had never campaigned for any politician or spoken on their behalf in the 2023 elections, though he admitted that political parties and candidates had sought his counsel. Speculation arose that staff of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) might have been involved in wiretapping or doctoring the audio to spark a propaganda war. The NCC quickly distanced itself, with Director of Public Affairs Dr Reuben Muoka stating that the Nigerian Communication Act 2003 and other laws do not permit the commission to track or leak telephone conversations.
Obi denied ever labeling the 2023 election a religious war, though he admitted to pressure to go into exile. He broke his silence on Twitter, vowing legal action against Peoples Gazette, the outlet that released the audio, and accusing the ruling APC and its agencies of trying to divert attention from his “stolen mandate.” He called the recording a “fake doctored audio call” designed to pressure him to leave the country, emphasizing that he has always urged voters to choose him based on character, competence, credibility, and compassion, not tribe or religion. Obi pledged not to be distracted until he reclaims his mandate.
The federal government recently demanded clarification from Obi on whether the audio was entirely fabricated or merely edited, warning him and his running mate against inciting public chaos. In London, Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed said, “If it is fake, it means it never took place. But if it is doctored, it means there was a conversation that was manipulated. Obi needs to clarify whether the conversation happened or was doctored, and which parts were altered.” The criticism has drawn the attention of elder statesmen such as Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clark, who called for sanctions against Mohammed for allegedly spreading fake news during a recent U.S. trip. Clark condemned the minister’s attempt to stifle free speech and sow division, while Mohammed defended his remarks as lawful admonition, denying any falsehood.
Murtala Aliyu, secretary‑general of the northern Arewa Consultative Forum, advised Obi to abandon religious and ethnic rhetoric, noting that “no one can rule this country on ethnic or religious sentiments and succeed.” He warned that any agenda rooted in such divisions would inevitably fail in Nigeria’s complex society.
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