Leaders of Hausa and other northern communities in Anambra State have rejected allegations that former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi discriminated against northerners or subjected them to discriminatory measures during his tenure.
The community leaders described the allegations as unfounded, pushing back against claims circulating in the political space ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the northern community representatives, Obi’s administration supported programmes that benefited residents across ethnic and religious lines.
The leaders specifically pointed to initiatives they said benefited northern residents during Obi’s tenure, including education-related interventions, agricultural support and assistance connected to religious activities.
Their position comes amid renewed political attention on Obi’s record as governor as the 2027 presidential race begins to take shape.
Claims about Obi’s treatment of northerners have surfaced periodically since his emergence as a major national political figure. Similar allegations were previously fact-checked, with available evidence challenging claims that Obi ordered northerners out of markets or required them to obtain special identification documents.
More recently, northern community leaders in Anambra again dismissed allegations involving mosque demolition and profiling, describing the claims as propaganda and defending Obi’s record in the state.
The latest defence is likely to add another dimension to the ongoing political debate over Obi’s support base and his relationship with northern communities as political actors prepare for 2027.
With political campaigns already beginning to take shape, claims concerning candidates’ records and relationships with Nigeria’s various ethnic and religious communities are expected to remain prominent.