Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has adopted a conciliatory tone towards Peter Obi, describing the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate as his friend and brother despite high political tensions.
“Peter Obi is my friend and brother. Our families are close; we only disagree on political ideology and strategies,” Soludo said in remarks widely shared on social media.
The statement emphasises personal and family ties while limiting differences to politics.
The softer language contrasts sharply with recent actions by his administration.
In early October, the Anambra State Government’s official X account, operated by the governor’s New Media office, published a “betrayal alert for Ndi APGA.”
The post accused Obi of pursuing a mission since 2014 to destroy the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) that produced him as governor.
It claimed that while President Bola Tinubu stood with APGA, Obi backed the opposition to bury the party, urging supporters to “defend your home, resist the NDC.” A vote for Obi, it warned, would amount to a vote to kill APGA.
Soludo has also endorsed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, citing over two decades of friendship and the President’s economic reforms.
He has questioned what Obi has delivered for the Igbo people and suggested Anambra voters could face consequences if they fail to back Tinubu, particularly on federal issues such as erosion control.
The “friend and brother” framing has, however, met skepticism online. On a widely circulated post by @ChuksEricE carrying Soludo’s remarks, users challenged the shift.
Kismet (@Agbomjrn) replied: “You’re playing politics of hate.” Tamar (@PeborH) argued: “By now he must have realized that his campaign of hate only brought more supporters to Peter Obi; he has no choice but to be humble.”
GuruBeastMedia (@JVeebrand) wrote that APGA is in trouble “after making HE Peter Obi more popular with his hate politics”, which is why Soludo is now “retracing.”
Other reactions were more poignant, describing the statement as an effort “just to please Tinubu” or calling Soludo “bitter, sadistic.”
donheskey (@donheskey79) observed: “Having a backstabbing friend or brother is like walking on pins and needles.”
Obi had previously described Soludo as a respected elder brother with whom he had no personal quarrel, noting that he and his wife were godparents to Soludo’s children.
Both political leaders had embraced in public after earlier periods of tension.
Soludo’s latest remarks, therefore, sit against a history both men have acknowledged, even as official messaging from his government portrayed Obi as a threat to APGA’s survival.