Obi’s Media Office Faults Shettima Over ‘Diminished’ Remark

Peter Obi’s media office has criticized Vice-President Kashim Shettima for describing the opposition politician as “diminished”, arguing that political leaders should debate their opponents’ records and policies rather than make personal remarks as parties position themselves for Nigeria’s 2027 general election.

The reaction followed comments Shettima made on Saturday, October 17, at the unveiling of the campaign headquarters of Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A), a northern coalition backing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid. Speaking about the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the vice-president said he was less concerned about opposition figures, including Obi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, than divisions within his own party.

“I am not afraid of a diminished Peter Obi,” Shettima said, adding that internal contradictions within the APC worried him more. He also urged northern party leaders not to support the presidential ticket while undermining APC governors and other party candidates contesting elections in their states. In a separate appeal, he called on party members to seek to defeat Atiku at the polls respectfully.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Peter Obi Media Office, through its spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr, questioned what it described as inconsistent treatment of opposition figures. It argued that Shettima’s call for respect towards Atiku sat uneasily with his description of Obi, and said political differences should not prevent leaders from recognizing the standing and contributions of their rivals.

The office also defended Obi’s conduct in public debate, saying the former Anambra governor had focused on policy issues and avoided abusive language against opponents. It urged political leaders to scrutinise candidates’ ideas and records rather than rely on personal characterizations, adding that voters, rather than statements by political rivals, would determine Obi’s political relevance.

The response went beyond the wording of Shettima’s remarks to challenge the records of both men in office. Obi governed Anambra State from 2006 to 2014, while Shettima was governor of Borno State from 2011 to 2019. The media office maintained that Obi’s administration performed better in key areas, particularly fiscal management, education and healthcare, and pointed to awards and performance assessments it said supported that view.

However, the statement did not provide a side-by-side set of statistics or supporting documents comparing the two administrations across those sectors. The broader record of Obi’s stewardship of Anambra has also been the subject of political dispute: in September, Premium Times examined Debt Management Office records amid conflicting claims over external borrowing during his tenure, finding that the state’s external debt rose during that period, although the figures were below the amount later claimed by the state government.

Neither the media office’s criticism nor Shettima’s remark settles the question of which former governor delivered stronger results. A meaningful comparison would require consistent measures across budgets, debt, education outcomes, healthcare access and other areas of public service, taking account of the different circumstances in Anambra and Borno. The exchange has nevertheless brought the candidates’ records and the tone of political engagement back into focus as Nigeria moves towards the 2027 election, when voters will be asked to assess not only campaign rhetoric but also the evidence behind competing claims of performance.