‘My message was twisted’: Obi denies telling UK-based Nigerians to abandon loved ones

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, denied asking Nigerians in the United Kingdom to stop financially supporting relatives at home. In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, he praised the diaspora’s sacrifices and said his concern was Nigeria’s reliance on remittances to cover basic needs. The clarification followed backlash over a video from a Manchester town hall on Sunday, where he urged Nigerians to refuse requests for money. Obi accused political opponents of distorting his message, which he said was a call to address hardship and build an economy that provides jobs and essential services.