The media office of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has criticised the Anambra State Government over its call on voters, particularly supporters of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), to reject the former governor, urging Governor Chukwuma Soludo to focus on governance.

In a statement on Monday, the spokesman for Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), Idris Zekeri Jnr., described the campaign against Obi as an unnecessary political distraction and called on Anambra elders, religious leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to prevail on Soludo to concentrate on the state’s pressing challenges.

The reaction followed a statement posted on the Anambra State Government’s official X handle, managed by the governor’s New Media office, urging voters to reject Obi.

Invoking the Igbo expression, “adịghị eburu onye ara ara n’ahịa” — roughly translated as not joining a mad person in the public square — Obi’s camp said it had chosen not to engage in what it considered an unproductive political exchange.

Zekeri alleged that Soludo devoted considerable attention to Obi during executive council meetings, claiming that some insiders in the administration had complained about the governor’s preoccupation with the former governor.

He argued that the state’s leadership should direct its energy towards governance rather than political exchanges with Obi.

The POMR spokesman also questioned the state government’s handling of recent flooding and disaster preparedness, alleging that warnings issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) were not adequately acted upon.

He cited discussions at a recent meeting in Port Harcourt, which he said highlighted Anambra’s preparedness for flooding that claimed lives in the state.

Zekeri recalled that during Obi’s tenure as governor, the state engaged UN-Habitat to develop master and structural plans for major cities, including Onitsha.

He alleged that the Soludo administration had failed to build sufficiently on those plans, accusing it of prioritising political activities over long-term urban development.

The Obi camp further alleged that the state government had mobilised more than 500 online operatives to attack the former governor, with plans to expand the network to 1,000.

It claimed that recruits were allegedly promised opportunities to nominate individuals for state engagements based on their performance in producing critical online content.

The allegations were not independently substantiated in the statement. The state government’s response to the claims was not included in the material provided.

Describing the alleged online campaign as a misuse of public resources, the media office urged the administration to address concerns over infrastructure, public spending and service delivery.

“Instead of obsessing over Obi, the governor should use those hours to tour Anambra and see how state funds are being wasted on roads that crumble while construction is still ongoing,” Zekeri said.

The statement also cited public receptions for Obi at Nnewi Cathedral and during the coronation of the Igwe of Adazi-Ani, arguing that the former governor retained significant grassroots support in the state.

On economic performance, the Obi camp referenced the Phillips Consulting State Performance Index, claiming that Anambra had fallen from first position during Obi’s tenure to 27th under the current administration.

It also contrasted the federal allocations available to the two administrations, claiming that Obi operated with an average monthly allocation of about ₦3 billion, compared with approximately ₦25 billion allegedly available to the current government.

The statement questioned the administration’s record in education, including infrastructure development in tertiary institutions and the state’s performance in examinations conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO).

It further raised concerns about waste management, erosion and the condition of roads across the state, alleging that the government had not adequately addressed the challenges.

The Obi camp maintained that the governor should focus on these issues rather than engage in political exchanges with the former governor.

It urged political and community leaders in Anambra to encourage the state government to prioritise governance and public welfare over partisan disputes.