Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, and supporters of the party on Thursday rejected the current national anthem, opting instead to sing the former anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots,” during a town hall meeting in Lagos.
The incident occurred at the Oregun area of Ikeja when the event anchor asked attendees to stand for the recital of the current anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.” Obi, alongside the party’s Lagos governorship candidate, Funso Doherty, and other supporters, declined to stand, forcing the moderator to switch to the old anthem, which the hall sang enthusiastically .
Viral video footage from the event showed Obi facing the crowd with two fingers raised on both hands to form the NDC party symbol as supporters sang the replaced anthem .
The anthem controversy unfolded against a backdrop of tension. Less than two hours before Obi arrived at the venue, suspected political thugs armed with cutlasses, cudgels, and stones invaded the gathering, injuring at least one supporter, damaging vehicles, and forcing participants to flee .
The attack triggered a war of words between the NDC and the ruling All Progressives Congress, with both parties trading accusations. The NDC accused the APC of encouraging political violence, while the ruling party denied involvement, with former Lagos APC spokesperson Seye Oladejo arguing that the party was preoccupied with its own campaign in Epe on the same day .
The decision to reject the current anthem drew swift criticism from political opponents.
Reno Omokri, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Mexico, condemned the action, citing Section 24(a) of the 1999 Constitution, which makes it a duty for citizens to respect the national anthem. “If you are prepared to openly and unapologetically disrespect these symbols, then what should Nigerians expect from you?” he asked .
Lere Olayinka, media aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, also slammed Obi, saying: “I am sure this Peter Obi does not know the implications of disrespecting the National Anthem of a country he is seeking to govern” .
President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill into law on May 29, 2024, restoring “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as the country’s official anthem .
The old anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots,” had been in use since 1978, when it replaced “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” which was adopted at independence in 1960 .
Obi, who won Lagos State in the 2023 presidential election with 582,354 votes on the Labour Party platform, is now the NDC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election, with Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate .
