Minister of Works David Umahi has criticised the repeated use of the phrase “go and verify” by Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), describing the expression as something he dislikes hearing.
Umahi made the comment in a video that circulated on Wednesday while reacting to Obi’s practice of asking Nigerians to independently scrutinise claims he makes about governance, public spending, development and his record in office.
“I hate hearing this statement he always makes, ‘go and verify,’” Umahi said.
Obi has repeatedly used the phrase when challenging members of the public to examine his claims against available records, documents and other sources. The expression has become a recurring feature of his public statements, particularly when discussing his tenure as Anambra State governor and his views on Nigeria’s economy and public finances.
Umahi’s latest remarks form part of the broader political exchanges surrounding Obi’s 2027 presidential campaign and his public claims about governance.
The minister has also previously criticised Obi’s political ambitions and questioned his record in the South-East, while calling for greater scrutiny of claims made by politicians.
The disagreement over the phrase reflects differing approaches to how political claims and records should be presented and examined. While Obi has used “go and verify” as an invitation for public scrutiny, Umahi has questioned the basis for repeatedly making the statement.
Individual claims by both political figures can ultimately be assessed against official records, government documents, budgets and other independently verifiable evidence.
