Nigeria: Shettima says Peter Obi offers nothing beyond statistics
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria
Vice-President Kashim Shettima has said that the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has nothing to offer Nigerians beyond statistics, which he described as questionable, and his stance on petrol subsidy.
Shettima made the remarks on October 26, 2026, at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, where economic policy, subsidy reform and the 2027 general elections formed part of the discussions.
Speaking at the summit, the Vice-President acknowledged Obi’s position on fuel subsidy but questioned the depth of his economic proposals.
“I respect Peter Obi for having the courage to say he’s not going to restore the petrol subsidy, but beyond spouting some dubious statistics, Mr Peter Obi has absolutely nothing to offer,” Shettima said.
The comment is the latest in a series of public criticisms the Vice-President has directed at the former Labour Party presidential candidate, who is now flying the flag of the NDC ahead of the 2027 elections.
In recent weeks, Shettima has repeatedly accused Obi of relying on misleading data and economic models that do not reflect Nigeria’s realities. At the summit and in previous engagements, he faulted Obi’s frequent comparisons between Nigeria and other developing economies such as Bangladesh.
According to Shettima, transplanting policy prescriptions from one country to another without accounting for structural differences is flawed and potentially dangerous for a large and complex economy like Nigeria.
He illustrated the point with an analogy: “He seems convinced that a size 36 shirt tailored for Bangladesh will somehow fit Nigeria’s size 52 frame.”
The Vice-President argued that Nigeria’s economic policies must be tailored to its unique circumstances, including its population of over 250 million people, its federal structure, its institutions and its diverse economic base.
“A country of over 250 million people cannot be governed through borrowed statistics and economic prescriptions detached from its peculiarities,” he added.
Shettima also revisited the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, challenging Obi’s claim that he won the poll. He described the assertion as unsupported by evidence and characterised it as a “delusion of grandeur.”
He further criticised what he described as an attempt by Obi to repackage old political ideas as a new direction for the country, insisting that the current administration’s reforms, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy and unification of exchange rates, were difficult but necessary steps to stabilise the economy.
Obi, who was the Labour Party candidate in 2023 and has since moved to the NDC, has consistently argued that Nigeria’s economic management has been wasteful and that better use of data and prudent resource management could deliver growth. He has maintained that he would not restore petrol subsidy if elected, but would handle the reform differently, with stronger social protection measures and more transparent use of savings.
The exchange between Shettima and Obi comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the NDC recently opening a new national secretariat in Abuja and positioning itself as a third-force alternative to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Other political figures have also weighed in on the emerging contest. While some, like Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo, have called for Igbo unity and broader alliances to produce a president, others like Omoyele Sowore have criticised Obi’s frequent party changes, accusing him of “renting a party every election.”
The Presidency has not indicated that Shettima’s comments represent a formal policy response to Obi, but they reflect the increasingly sharp tone of political discourse as parties begin to outline their economic agendas for 2027.
