Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has clarified his alleged statement that the 2023 presidential election was a “religious war”.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the statement was made in a leaked audio clip where he appeared to urge the founder of Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, to encourage Christians in the South-West and Kwara states to vote for him.
However, in a recent interview with Arise TV, Obi denied making the statement, calling it the work of “manipulators”. He emphasised that he is not an ethnic or religious bigot and that he sponsors many Muslim residents in Onitsha on pilgrimages to Mecca.
He said, “I did not say the election was a religious war because it is not. These are manipulators. I am not an ethnic/religious bigot. I celebrated Salah with Muslim residents in Onitsha as I have often done. I have sponsored many to Mecca. I am not the one with a same faith ticket.
“And let’s not forget, there was only one person that told his supporters to: ‘snatch it! Grab it and run with it’ during this election season.”
Obi’s initial statement caused controversy and sparked criticism, with many accusing him of promoting religious sentiment in the run-in to the general election.
