Kwankwaso defends Obi against Shettima's 'bogus statistics' claim on Channels TV
Kwankwaso, the vice‑presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), defended his party’s presidential candidate Peter Obi after Vice President Kashim Shettima called Obi a 'master of bogus statistics and incoherent economic prescriptions' during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on October 15, 2026. Kwankwaso said he regularly listens to Obi’s presentations, checks the figures presented, and finds most of them correct, adding that everyone can slip of the tongue or make mistakes.
Why does this matter? The exchange highlights the intensifying battle over economic credibility between the ruling APC ticket and the opposition NDC as Nigeria heads toward the 2027 general elections. Obi’s campaign has leaned heavily on data‑driven policy proposals, while Shettima’s remark seeks to undermine that credibility. Public trust in candidates’ economic plans directly influences voter decisions on jobs, inflation and national development.
What should you know or do? Kwankwaso praised Obi’s familiarity with global statistics, noting his exposure in Europe, Asia and elsewhere, and framed the remark as a sign of strength. As the political rhetoric heats up, consider which candidate’s economic data you find reliable and how that aligns with your own priorities for the country’s future.