Opposition Parties Fault Peter Obi Over Call to Halt Diaspora Remittances
The Labour Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) have criticised Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his appeal to Nigerians living abroad to reconsider sending money to relatives at home ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The parties warned that such a move could worsen the financial difficulties of families who depend on overseas support for essential expenses, including food, healthcare, education and housing.
Obi made the remarks during a town hall meeting with Nigerian supporters in Manchester, United Kingdom, where he urged diaspora Nigerians to challenge requests for financial assistance from home and encourage their relatives to demand better leadership through the ballot.
The Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, argued that discouraging remittances could hurt ordinary Nigerians who rely on financial assistance from family members abroad to meet urgent needs. He urged political candidates to promote responsible voting without encouraging actions that could aggravate economic hardship.
Similarly, NNPP National Chairman, Major Agbo, described Obi’s position as unpatriotic, maintaining that money sent home by Nigerians abroad contributes to the country’s economic activities. He questioned the economic implications of discouraging financial inflows from overseas.
The Social Democratic Party also faulted the appeal, with its National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, arguing that withholding remittances would not automatically influence the outcome of the 2027 presidential election. He said Nigerians in the diaspora would need to engage more directly in political mobilisation and campaigns to advance their preferred candidates.
However, the Obidient Movement defended Obi, insisting that his message was not intended to encourage Nigerians to abandon their families but to challenge a system that leaves millions dependent on relatives abroad for survival.
The movement’s Director of Media and Communications, Onyeka Dike, said Obi recognised the sacrifices made by Nigerians overseas to support their loved ones. He explained that the former Anambra State governor wanted them to demand better governance rather than allow financial assistance to serve as a permanent solution to the country’s economic difficulties.
Dike argued that many families depend on remittances to pay school fees, purchase food and access medical care because of the government's failure to provide an environment where citizens can meet their basic needs independently.
The controversy has highlighted differences among opposition parties over how Nigerians at home and abroad should respond to the economic challenges facing the country under President Bola Tinubu’s administration as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections.
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