Vice-President Kashim Shettima has criticised Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), accusing him of undermining his political prospects ahead of the 2027 general election through what he described as lies and bogus statistics.
Gatekeepers News reports that Shettima made the remarks on Friday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential rally in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
The vice-president said Obi had squandered the goodwill he previously enjoyed among Nigerians, adding that his public statements no longer generated the enthusiasm they once attracted.
“I hear my friend Peter Obi is back in the country after sneaking out to have a rest. He might have avoided Lagos and Abuja on arrival,” Shettima said.
“And clearly this gentleman has run himself out of this race with his lies and bogus statistics. We warned him that he’ll get to that.
“Peter Obi has clearly messed up and squandered away his goodwill; he no longer excites when he speaks these days. He draws suspicions, too bad for him.”
The latest criticism is not the first time Shettima has questioned Obi’s public statements and economic arguments.
In October, while speaking at the opening of the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit, the vice-president said the former Anambra governor had little to offer Nigerians beyond citing statistics.
“I respect Peter Obi for having the courage to say he’s not going to restore the petrol subsidy, but beyond spouting some statistics, Mr Peter Obi has absolutely nothing to offer,” Shettima said.
“He was surviving on various statistics. So, I call on you, the crème de la crème of the Nigerian economic community, to support us.”
Similarly, at the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council on October 16, Shettima described Obi as “the master of bogus statistics and incoherent economic prescriptions.”
