The political tension ahead of the 2027 general elections has taken another turn as Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised Peter Obi over his decision to reject Nigeria’s current national anthem at a political gathering in Lagos.

Olayinka accused the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) of showing disrespect to the country’s national symbols, warning that such actions could undermine national unity.

According to reports by The Punch, Naija News and TheCable, the controversy followed Thursday’s NDC town hall meeting in Lagos, where Obi, alongside the party’s Lagos governorship candidate, Funso Doherty, and other supporters, declined to participate when the current national anthem, ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’, was introduced.

Instead, the gathering proceeded with the former national anthem, ‘Arise, O Compatriots’, which was replaced in May 2024 after President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill into law.

Reacting to the development in a post on X, Olayinka questioned Obi’s decision, arguing that Nigerians seeking political leadership should demonstrate respect for the country’s Constitution and national symbols.

He also referenced Section 24(a) of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines citizens’ responsibilities to respect the Constitution, its institutions, the national flag, national anthem and other national symbols.

The incident has sparked fresh political debate on social media, with Nigerians expressing different opinions over the decision to return to the former anthem.

While some have criticised Obi’s action, others have questioned the process through which the current anthem was reintroduced in 2024.

With the 2027 elections approaching, the controversy has added another dimension to the growing political exchanges between supporters of different political camps.