I’ll never abuse Tinubu, he has my respect – Peter Obi

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has declared that he would never abuse President Bola Tinubu, emphasizing that the President commands his respect. This stance was articulated by Obi during the 2026 All Nigeria Editors’ Conference held in Enugu on Friday. The conference was themed “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive.”

Addressing political disagreements, Obi stressed that they should center on policies and performance rather than resorting to personal attacks. He asserted, “I cannot abuse any governor. I cannot abuse anybody in government. I don’t need to abuse people even in the federal government. I’ve never abused anybody. Who has seen me calling President Tinubu’s name? Never! I will not do that. He’s the President of the country, he has all my respect.”

Despite this declaration, Obi did not rule out the necessity of questioning public officials. He highlighted that respect for public office holders should not impede citizens and the media from critiquing their decisions and performance. Furthermore, Obi underscored that the character and conduct of political leaders can significantly impact the value of society at large. He urged editors to assess politicians based on their records, statements, and qualifications.