Abuja – The precidency through the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has accused Arise Television of giving preferential treatment to Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi compared with other contenders in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.
In a post on his verified X handle on Monday, Bwala criticised the tone and content of discussions on the station’s Morning Show. He claimed presenters routinely express strong opinions about other presidential candidates but adopt a markedly softer approach when addressing Obi.
“Is anyone watching Arise News @ARISEtv morning show gossip trending? They have strong opinion on all the candidates, but when it came to @PeterObi, what they have is advice; even the tone of their voices when talking about Peter Obi is like surrogates advising their principal,” Bwala wrote.
He further alleged that the station had not featured any trending reports considered adverse to Obi since the former Anambra State governor became a presidential candidate.
“I dare to say that they never had any so-called stories trending adverse to Peter Obi since Obi has been on the ballot,” he added.
Bwala’s comments come amid heightened political tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections, in which Obi is contesting on the NDC platform. The presidential aide has previously clashed publicly with Arise TV anchors, including accusations that some presenters act as unofficial advocates for Obi.
The latest remarks triggered mixed reactions online, with some of Bwala’s followers cautioning him against the claims while others amplified the criticism of the television station.
Arise Television had not issued an official response to the accusation as of the time of filing this report. The station is known for its critical coverage of successive Nigerian governments and regularly hosts interviews and panel discussions featuring politicians across the political spectrum.
Bwala’s intervention adds to ongoing debates about media neutrality and fairness in the coverage of presidential aspirants as the election cycle intensifies.
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