Nigerians Using Microscope on Obi, Blindfold on Others — Obi Media Reach

By Jude Opara

The Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) says it has observed growing double standards in the scrutiny and evaluation of presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 election, alleging that its principal and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has been scrutinised more than any other candidate.

Spokesman for POMR, Idris Zekeri, said in a statement on Wednesday that, notwithstanding the intense scrutiny, the organisation was pleased that its candidate had set high standards.

Nevertheless, POMR said it was wrong for the political establishment and some sections of the media to be more interested in searching for Obi’s imperfections instead of confronting the records of those who had held power and those still wielding it.

“However, there is something fundamentally wrong when the political establishment and sections of the media in a great and embattled nation like Nigeria seem more interested in searching for Peter Obi’s imperfections than confronting the corrupt records of those who have wielded and continue to wield power.

“The Media Office has noted that every word of Peter Obi is dissected. His past decisions are resurrected. Every allegation is amplified—even when disputed or needing context.

“Meanwhile, records of failed promises, economic hardship, insecurity and governance failures elsewhere are routinely softened, explained away or forgotten.

“A President abandons a troubled country for Europe to cover up his filthy past, but the nation is not questioning that; instead, it is looking at how Obi takes every step. Why demand perfection from a candidate while tolerating failure in those who have governed or are still governing?” the office questioned.

According to Zekeri, while POMR encourages scrutiny of Peter Obi, it is equally appropriate for the same level of scrutiny to be applied to other presidential candidates.

He specifically mentioned Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo as one of those engaged in what he described as a fruitless search into Obi’s past.

“For emphasis, the Peter Obi Media Office encourages scrutiny of him, as is already happening with some, like Governor Charles Soludo, who is even manufacturing non-existent flaws after fruitless searches. But for God’s sake, scrutinise everyone.

“Let us not use a microscope on Obi and a blindfold on others. Nigeria deserves equal standards—not selective outrage. For us at the Peter Obi Media, the political discourse surrounding our principal often reveals a stark double standard in candidate evaluation.

“Supporters and critics alike often hold Obi to a standard of absolute purity while giving pragmatic grace to traditional political figures. We have noticed the leniency standard applied to some candidates.

“Traditional and corrupt candidates are judged according to a framework of political realism. Their past scandals, policy failures, systemic corruption allegations or lack of transparency are often dismissed as ‘how politics works’ or accepted as necessary compromises for political expediency.”

POMR further argued that while Obi had built his campaign around transparency and the need to break away from the status quo, other candidates who, according to the group, had never made such an open commitment were not being criticised for their alleged lack of transparency.

“Since Obi has built his campaign around reform, transparency and breaking away from the status quo, voters naturally hold him to the high standard he set, which is fair. But legacy corrupt candidates, who have never promised moral purity, are not penalised for their lack of it.

“Why must Peter Obi, a human being, be perfect, while every flaw in other candidates—like corruption, drugs or lack of certificates—is explained away?

“Obi is asking all his institutions to release his documents to the public, but others are asking courts to keep them from the public. If Obi errs, it is regarded as incompetence. When others err, it is ‘human.’ When Obi changes his position, it is called inconsistency. When others do the same, it is ‘politics.’ This is not objective scrutiny. It is selective outrage.”

The media office insisted that Nigeria does not need a perfect president but one who is competent, credible and capable.