The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has knocked FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for calling its presidential candidate Peter Obi lawless over the national anthem controversy in Lagos, saying Wike lacks moral authority to judge others.

What started as argument over anthem at NDC town hall Thursday has now turned to wider political clash about credibility, as NDC pushes to shift focus from symbolism to hardship before 2027 polls.

Incident happened at NDC town hall in Lagos. Reports said Obi and crowd remained seated when current anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” was played. Compere then played former anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots,” which Obi and supporters stood up to sing. Tinubu had reintroduced the old “Nigeria We Hail Thee” on May 29, 2024, replacing “Arise O Compatriots” used since 1978.

At a stakeholders meeting in Ogu-Bolo, Rivers State on Friday organised under Rainbow Coalition for Tinubu 2027 re-election, Wike said Obi action shows unfitness.

“A whole national anthem of a country is being sung. A man who wants to be President of Nigeria would disobey and sit down. And then not only that, when a different national anthem that is not being used for Nigeria was sung, he stood up,” Wike said.

He added: “In a way, he does not belong to this country. In a way, he has said he does not belong to this country; that if you give him the president, he would do a different thing that will divide Nigeria.”

Wike also faulted Obi record, saying he abandons parties during crisis and failed to conduct LG elections in Anambra for eight years. “A man who does not believe in Nigeria, someone who derives joy in ridiculing the country by disrespecting its symbolic National Anthem must not be allowed to come near the presidency,” he said.

Replying Friday night, NDC Campaign Council spokesperson Dr. Chiogo Ikokwu described Wike comment as extraordinary.

“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,” she said.

She cited Wike involvement in 2023 presidential election issues in Rivers and his PDP/APC manoeuvring.

“You cannot be an arsonist in your own backyard and turn up elsewhere preaching fire safety,” Ikokwu said. “He should put his own house in order before attempting to police the conduct of others.”

On anthem, NDC said singing was not planned by party or Obi. “It was entirely impromptu, initiated by the people themselves. It was not scripted, orchestrated or planned by anyone,” Ikokwu said.

She noted another video showed crowd also sang current anthem, saying Wike is giving it wrong interpretation.

Lagos governorship candidate Funso Doherty on Nigeria Info 99.3FM Friday said same, that crowd spontaneously sang old anthem, but current anthem was also sung. “Obviously, the national anthem is the national anthem. We only have one national anthem, and ultimately that was what we sang,” he said.

NDC accused Wike of using anthem to divert attention from APC failures.

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

Party said 2027 should be about economy and cost of living, not anthem.