A statement on Sunday from Mr Obi’s media office, signed by his spokesman Valentine Obienyem, said that Obi did not at any point blast or reject the consensus candidacy position of PDP.

Former Anambra Governor and Presidential hopeful, Peter Obi has debunked reports that he criticised northern elders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over consensus candidacy for the 2023 presidential election.

A statement on Sunday from Mr Obi’s media office, signed by his spokesman Valentine Obienyem, said that Obi did not at any point “blast” or reject the consensus candidacy position of PDP.

“Anyone who has followed Peter Obi’s political journey will agree that he sticks to issue-based politics. He does not go around criticising people, organisations or institutions blindly. He invests his focus, energy and time on preferring solutions to the myriads of challenges burdening our nation, Nigeria.

“As a loyal party member, Peter Obi has always abided by the rules, regulations and decisions of the party. He cannot possibly criticise the party’s decision in public,” Obienyem said.

Reacting to the viral video where it was alleged that Obi rejected the consensus candidate position of the party, Obienyem said: “I just read through it and they claim ‘Peter Obi addressed reporters after paying a visit to AIT office.’ But they failed to provide the where and when, which are fundamental elements of verifying any credible news report.

“If the medium based their report on what Obi said after one of his consultations, then they might have, out of mischief or incompetence or both, deliberately misrepresented Obi by reporting him out of context.

“Obi simply stated that Nigerians care less about whether a consensus candidate emerges or not, but they desire a competent, credible and capable leader who will rescue the nation from all round decadence and position it on the path of progress.”