- ‘Obidients Have Done A Lot Of Manipulation Online’ – Presidency
- Daniel Bwala described Obi supporters as social media “tigers.”
- Presidential aide denied paying individuals to defend government online.
The Presidency has accused supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of engaging in widespread manipulation on social media platforms.
The allegation was made by Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, during an interview on News Central Television on Monday.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Bwala described Obi’s supporters, popularly known as Obidients, as the most influential and active political group on social media, claiming they possess significant technological expertise and online reach.
According to him, social media has transformed political engagement by providing citizens with direct access to public officials and leaders, enabling criticism and political discourse without traditional media barriers.
“If you want to know for the records, the tigers of social media are Peter Obi’s followers. Everybody knows. Some of them live abroad, where the data is free. Some in Nigeria, they have access to some of those things, most of them are in the tech. They have done a lot of manipulation.
“That is not to say there are other political parties where there are no people like that. I will be the last to say, but if you are talking of tigers, then it’s the Obidients,” Bwala said.
The presidential aide made the remarks while responding to questions about online political engagement and the activities of supporters of various political parties.
Speaking further, Bwala dismissed suggestions that he employs individuals to defend the administration on social media or online platforms.
“I don’t pay anybody for anything,” he stated.
Responding to a follow-up question, he added, “If I was a paying type, all this agenda that was cooked against me during the Medi Hassan interview, I would have sold my family land to be defending agenda.”
The comments have added to ongoing discussions about the role of social media in Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly as political parties and their supporters increasingly rely on digital platforms to shape public opinion and mobilise support.
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