Obi’s party accuses the FCT Minister of hypocrisy over his criticism of the old national anthem rendition at a Lagos town hall, insisting the incident was an impromptu expression by supporters.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has criticised Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, declaring that he lacks the moral authority to lecture its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on political unity, tolerance and responsible leadership.

The party challenged Wike to address political divisions within his own political camp before accusing Obi of promoting disunity and lawlessness.

The response followed Wike’s reported criticism of Obi over the rendition of Nigeria’s old national anthem by supporters of the NDC during a town hall meeting in Lagos on Thursday.

In a statement issued on Friday night, National Campaign Council spokesperson of the NDC, Dr Chiogo Ikokwu, described Wike’s criticism as misplaced, arguing that his political activities, particularly in Rivers State, had been associated with divisions and prolonged political instability.

Ikokwu questioned Wike’s position as a moral authority on political tolerance, citing his involvement in political controversies surrounding the 2023 presidential election in Rivers State and his political manoeuvring across party lines involving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the NDC spokesperson, the minister should first address the political challenges associated with his own conduct before criticising other political figures.

She said: “It is extraordinary that someone whose political conduct in and outside Rivers State has been widely associated with deep divisions, political upheaval and prolonged instability, can suddenly appoint himself the moral referee of Nigerian politics.”

Ikokwu further declared that Wike could not be seen as a credible voice on political unity while allegedly contributing to divisions within his own political environment.

You cannot be an arsonist in your own backyard and turn up elsewhere preaching fire safety,” she said.

The NDC also defended the rendition of the old national anthem by its supporters during the Lagos town hall meeting, insisting that the incident was neither planned nor orchestrated by Obi or the party leadership.

Ikokwu explained that the singing was an impromptu expression by supporters at the gathering.

She further argued that another portion of the video showed the same supporters singing the current national anthem, accusing critics of placing an unnecessary political interpretation on the incident.

The party maintained that the episode should not be used to portray Obi or the NDC as promoting division or disrespect for national unity.

Beyond the disagreement over the national anthem, the NDC spokesperson accused Wike of attempting to divert public attention from the performance of the APC-led Federal Government.

She urged Nigerians to concentrate on economic conditions, rising hardship and other issues affecting citizens as political parties prepare for the 2027 general election.

Ikokwu said: “Minister Wike should stop distracting Nigerians from the gargantuan failures of the government he’s trying very hard to sell.”

She added that the economy and what she described as the crippling hardship facing Nigerians should remain central to the national political conversation.

“We need to focus on the issues that matter to Nigerians in this election: the economy and the crippling hardship inflicted by the APC government,” she said.

The exchange highlights growing political disagreements as opposition parties and supporters of President Bola Tinubu position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

With Obi emerging as the NDC’s presidential candidate and Wike remaining a prominent political figure within the current administration’s political landscape, their supporters are increasingly engaging in public exchanges over national leadership, political conduct and the direction of the country.

The latest disagreement also reflects how symbolic issues, including national identity and patriotic expressions, are becoming part of the wider political debate ahead of the next general election.