Why Peter Obi avoided debate with me - Dave Umahi

Minister for Works, Engr. Dave Umahi has said that Peter Obi Dodged Debate he invited the Nigerian Democratic Congress NDC Presidential candidate to because Obi Knew he Couldn’t Match his Record

Umahi stressed that Peter Obi, turned down his invitation to a public debate because he was not confident of defending his record against his (Umahi’s).

In a statement on Sunday signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, Umahi said that the proposed debate was about governance and accountability, not about who is running for president in 2027.

Umahi had earlier challenged Obi to a debate focused on their respective performances as two-term governors. 

Responding during an interview with media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo, Obi said Umahi must first become a presidential candidate before such an engagement, arguing that presidential debates are for presidential candidates. 

He compared it to “a football team that qualified for the FIFA World Cup being challenged by one that failed to qualify.”

Reacting, Umahi said that reasoning missed the point. 

“Many Nigerians expected what could have been one of the most consequential conversations on public service in recent times. Instead, Mr. Obi declined the invitation, explaining that he is currently a presidential candidate while Senator Umahi is not,” the statement said.

“Yet the challenge was never about electoral status. It was about accountability. It was about inviting two former governors to present their records before Nigerians and allow the public to judge whose leadership produced the greater impact.”

The minister argued that his public service cuts across more levels than Obi’s.

“At every stage, Umahi’s leadership was tested through elections, public scrutiny and increasing national responsibility,” he said, listing his roles as party chairman, deputy governor, two-term governor of Ebonyi, Chairman of South-East Governors’ Forum, Co-Chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum, senator, and now Minister of Works.

“By contrast, Peter Obi’s highest elective public office and entire experience has been Governor of Anambra State. Beyond that, he has not held any other executive or legislative public office. Not party chairman, not minister, and never a senator.”

Umahi also took a swipe at Obi’s emphasis on fiscal savings during his time as Anambra governor, saying governance should be judged by visible projects.

“Keeping money in the bank while leaving contractors unpaid and failing to complete meaningful, life-impacting projects cannot, by itself, be regarded as an achievement. Ultimately, leadership is measured by the tangible improvements it delivers to the lives of the people,” he said.

He highlighted roads, flyovers, bridges, hospitals and schools built in Ebonyi under his administration, and ongoing federal road projects under his supervision as Minister of Works.

The minister further alleged that Obi ran Anambra “for most of his eight-year tenure without democratically elected local government chairmen,” relying on caretaker committees until elections were held shortly before he left office.

Umahi maintained that he remains open to a debate on any credible platform.

“One cannot credibly aspire to lead a nation as complex and demanding as Nigeria without a demonstrable record of performance as a governor,” he said.

“Likewise, it is difficult to convince Nigerians that you are prepared to challenge an administration led by a focused and determined President Bola Ahmed Tinubu when you are not even a match and cannot stand a debate with one of the key leaders of that administration on the basis of verifiable performance and achievements.

“Nigerians deserve the opportunity to evaluate records.”

Obi was the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election and remains a leading opposition figure ahead of 2027.