“Look in the mirror” — NDC fires back at Wike over Obi anthem row, says old anthem was spontaneous
Photo: Peter Obi (left) and Funso Doherty at the NDC town hall, Lagos, 12 Nov 2026 · Photo: Vanguard
Wike says Obi disrespected Nigeria over the anthem. The NDC says Wike should look in the mirror — and that the old anthem was sung by the crowd, not planned.
Key points
- The NDC fired back at FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who accused Peter Obi of disrespecting Nigeria by allegedly remaining seated during the current national anthem but standing for the old anthem at a Lagos town hall.
- NDC spokesperson Dr Chiogo Constance Ikokwu said Wike should 'look in the mirror', given his political record in Rivers State, and urged him to focus on the economy and the cost of living.
- The NDC said the old anthem was sung spontaneously by supporters — 'not scripted, orchestrated or planned by anyone' — and that the crowd also sang the current anthem. Whether Obi remained seated is disputed.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) fired back on Friday night, 13 November, at FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who had accused its presidential candidate Peter Obi of disrespecting Nigeria by allegedly remaining seated during the current national anthem but standing for the old anthem at an NDC town hall in Lagos on Thursday.
Wike, speaking at a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders' meeting in Ogu-Bolo, Rivers State, called the action evidence of lawlessness and an attempt to divide the country. In a statement by NDC National Campaign Council spokesperson Dr Chiogo Constance Ikokwu, the party said Wike lacks the moral authority to lecture anyone on unity, given his political record in Rivers State: “Minister Wike needs to look in the mirror. It is extraordinary that someone whose political conduct in and outside Rivers State has been widely associated with deep divisions, political upheaval and prolonged instability can suddenly appoint himself the moral referee of Nigerian politics.”
The NDC clarified that the old anthem was sung spontaneously by supporters — “not scripted, orchestrated or planned by anyone” — and that the crowd also sang the current anthem in another part of the video. Ikokwu urged Wike to “stop distracting Nigerians from the gargantuan failures of the government he's trying very hard to sell” and focus on the economy and the cost of living.
Whether Obi actually remained seated during the current anthem is itself disputed — the NDC says the crowd sang both anthems. The anthem row has now become a proxy war: Wike's attack on Obi drew a personal counter-attack on Wike's own record, and it is the second Wike–Obi clash of the week.
Why this matters
The anthem row has now become a proxy war: Wike's attack on Obi drew a personal counter-attack on Wike's own record, and the NDC's 'spontaneous, not scripted' defence reframes the whole incident.
Latest developments
First published 14 Nov 2026, 08:20 WAT.
Related coverage on NewsFlux:
- Police probe Obi town hall attack, arrest one suspect and confirm two injured as House opens inquiry · 12 Nov 2026, 19:18 WAT
- “Ba ma yi, ba ma so” — Tinubu booed at Abuja mosque; Presidency denies convoy stoning · 14 Nov 2026, 08:20 WAT
- “Only Nigeria's speech was cut out” — Fani-Kayode accuses South African Presidency of deliberate snub; Pretoria fires back · 14 Nov 2026, 08:20 WAT
Sources
- The Sun — NDC to Wike: you lack moral authority to lecture Obi on unity, tolerance (14 Nov 2026)
- Nuus — NDC to Wike: stop distracting Nigerians over Obi (14 Nov 2026)
- Orbits News — Wike should look in the mirror before preaching unity, NDC fires back over Obi anthem row (14 Nov 2026)
Whether Obi remained seated during the current anthem is disputed — the NDC says the crowd sang both anthems. The quotes from both sides are presented as their words.