Former Anambra State Governor and 2027 presidential hopeful Peter Obi has clarified remarks he made during a recent television interview after they sparked widespread debate online.
During his appearance on Channels Television, Obi said that “all the commissioners that served with me” during his eight years as governor were Muslims while responding to allegations of religious bias. The comment quickly drew criticism, with many pointing out that his state cabinet included several Christian commissioners.
Obi has since explained that he was referring to Commissioners of Police, not members of his state executive council. According to him, all the police commissioners posted to Anambra during his administration came from northern states, and his remark was about federal security appointments rather than his cabinet.
Checks show that several Commissioners of Police served in Anambra between 2006 and 2014, including John Haruna, Amusa Bello, Philemon Leha, Muhtari Ibrahim, Balla Nasarawa, and Usman Gwary. The clarification has done little to end the political debate, with supporters arguing Obi simply misspoke, while critics maintain the wording created unnecessary confusion.
The controversy comes as political scrutiny of leading figures continues to intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election.
