Being a presidential candidate is not an achievement- Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, fires back at Peter Obi

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, says being a presidential candidate is not an achievement,

Umahi said this while replying to NDC Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who in a recent interview said he will not be having a debate with Umahi.

A few weeks ago, Umahi challenged Obi to a debate on the infrastructural development of the Tinubu administration after Obi called out the Federal government over the deplorable state of some major roads in Nigeria.

During an interview with Chude Jideonwo, Obi was asked whether he would take on the debate with Umahi. Responding, Obi said Umahi should first become a presidential candidate before inviting him to a debate, He further stated that Umahi should ''play within his circle''.

''"If he is inviting me to a debate as a presidential candidate, then he has to become a presidential candidate first.

The World Cup is going on now. You cannot stay outside and invite a team that qualified for the World Cup to come and play against you simply because you think you are good. No. There is a qualification process.

I am a presidential candidate. Around the world, not all presidential candidates participate in debates. It is usually the leading candidates. It is like someone in Division One asking a Premier League team to play a match. No! You compete within your own circle. When he becomes a presidential candidate, then he can debate with those who are in that category," he said

Responding to Obi, Umahi, while inspecting a road project on Sunday, said being a presidential candidate is not an achievement as Obi is making it to seem. He opined that he has done more for Nigeria through serving in public office than Obi has ever done.

He also opined that since President Tinubu is on the ballot as a presidential candidate, he is by extension also a presidential candidate.

Watch a video of him speaking below

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by Linda Ikeji at 13/07/2026 7:41 AM | Share this Story