In a candid social media address that has ignited fresh debate about Nigeria’s political financing, former Big Brother Naija housemate and comedian DeeOne has publicly challenged former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to reconsider his frugal campaign approach ahead of the 2027 elections.
The entertainer’s comments, delivered via a viral Instagram video Saturday morning, come amid growing concern among Obi supporters following the recent defection of several prominent Labour Party coordinators to the newly formed City Boy Movement—a political support group backing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The City Boy Movement, established by the president’s son Seyi Tinubu, has reportedly recruited former Obi supporters as coordinators and directors across multiple South-East states, a development that has sent shockwaves through opposition circles.
DeeOne, known for his unfiltered commentary on Nigerian politics, directed his message at what he termed Obi’s overly cautious spending philosophy, particularly the candidate’s popular catchphrase “We no dey give shishi” (We don’t give money).
“If you want Mr. Peter Obi to do well in the coming 2027 election, let us tell him the truth,” DeeOne stated. “You cannot win a presidential election with sympathy votes. It may have given him some leverage in the last election, but in the 2027 election, it is not going to work.”
The comedian drew parallels to international political campaigns, citing Donald Trump’s reported $66 million personal investment in his U.S. presidential campaign as evidence that serious political ambitions require substantial financial commitment.
In perhaps his most damning claim, DeeOne alleged that Labour Party agents stationed at polling units during the 2023 general elections lacked basic provisions such as food and water, allegedly relying on rival political parties for sustenance.
“Labour Party agents during the last election did not see water to drink at the polling unit. They did not see food to chop; what kind of thing is that?” he questioned. “Do you know that it was other parties that gave Labour Party agents food and water to drink during the last election? Or should we bring out evidence?”
The comedian distinguished between vote-buying—which is illegal under Nigerian electoral law—and legitimate campaign expenditure, arguing that Obi’s reluctance to spend extends beyond preventing corruption into what he characterizes as organizational negligence.
DeeOne suggested that if Obi lacks personal funds for campaign operations, he should establish a transparent donation system with public accountability for expenditures—a model increasingly used in modern political campaigns globally.
“If Mr. Peter Obi does not have his own money to spend on his own ambition, then he should call his own followers and ask them to donate, and he will give an account of how he spent the money,” he proposed.
The comedian warned against underestimating the organizational capacity of the City Boy Movement, urging Obi’s camp to take the emerging political machinery seriously. “The worst thing Mr. Peter Obi or anybody supporting him will do is to look down on this City Boy movement. Look at what they’re doing; it’s not a joke. Presidential election no be cho cho cho (is not child’s play). You have to show workings.”
Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign was notable for its grassroots energy and appeal among Nigeria’s youth demographic, particularly through social media mobilization. His supporters, known as “Obidients,” championed his image as a fiscally conservative leader who eschewed wasteful spending—a stark contrast to Nigeria’s traditional “big man” political culture.
However, despite strong showings in urban centers and the Southeast, Obi finished third in the official results behind winner Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party. The Labour Party has contested these results in court.
The recent defections to the City Boy Movement suggest potential cracks in Obi’s support base, particularly in his traditional stronghold of the South-East, raising questions about the sustainability of his political coalition.
DeeOne’s intervention reflects a broader conversation within opposition circles about whether ideological purity and frugality can compete against well-funded political machines in Nigeria’s expensive electoral landscape, where logistical operations across the country’s 36 states and 774 local government areas require substantial resources.
As Nigeria approaches the 2027 election cycle, the tension between grassroots enthusiasm and organizational capacity may well determine the viability of alternative political movements in Africa’s most populous democracy.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Comedian DeeOne has publicly warned Peter Obi that his cost-cutting campaign strategy won’t win the 2027 presidential election. He alleges that Labour Party agents at polling stations during the 2023 election lacked basic provisions like food and water and were allegedly fed by rival parties.
DeeOne argues that while Obi’s frugal “we no dey give shishi” approach appealed to voters in 2023, he cannot rely on sympathy votes again—especially as former supporters defect to President Tinubu’s well-funded City Boy Movement.
The comedian’s central message: serious political ambition requires serious investment in campaign infrastructure, and Obi must either spend his own money or establish transparent crowdfunding with accountability, or risk losing to better-organized opponents.
