Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, has refuted reports claiming he advised Nigerians living in the United Kingdom to stop sending financial support to their families back home.
​Obi described the viral reports as a calculated attempt by political opponents to twist his message regarding the severe economic hardship in Nigeria.
​The controversy stems from remarks made by Obi during an interactive town hall meeting with Nigerian diaspora supporters on Sunday, October 18, 2026, held in Manchester, United Kingdom.
​Addressing the gathering, Obi highlighted the staggering cost-of-living crisis facing everyday Nigerians and the unsustainable strain placed on the diaspora community to bridge the gap through continuous remittances.
​According to initial reports circulating on social media, Obi was quoted as telling attendees; “You have people at home in Nigeria today who are begging you for money. Tell them no!”
​Political critics and rival campaign groups quickly seized on the quote, accusing Obi of asking diaspora citizens to abandon their struggling relatives in Nigeria.
​In a formal response issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the Peter Obi Media Office (POMO) released a clarifying statement to set the record straight.
​Speaking on behalf of the media office, spokesperson Ibrahim Umar stated that Obi’s words were taken out of context to manufacture false narrative ahead of the upcoming 2027 political cycle.
​”Mr. Peter Obi deeply appreciates Nigerians in the diaspora who work tirelessly and make enormous sacrifices to support their families back home. He is not asking Nigerians abroad to stop supporting their families. Rather, he is advocating for a structural change in Nigeria where families will no longer need to depend entirely on foreign remittances just to survive basic daily living,” the statement read.
​The media office clarified that Obi’s message aimed at empowering citizens back home to hold leaders accountable rather than relying indefinitely on diaspora relief. Obi urged diaspora Nigerians to tell their relatives that true financial relief will come not from endless aid, but from electing competent, accountable, and transparent leadership in future elections.
In the Highlights from Obi’s Speech, Obi lamented that bad leadership and corruption continue to drain national resources meant for schools, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Defense of his record as Anambra State Governor, challenging critics to identify any governor who managed public savings as prudently. Urging Nigerians at home and abroad to view the next electoral cycle as a decisive moment to break the cycle of poverty and bad governance.
