By Akinwale Kasali
The Management of Ikorodu United has stated the reason behind its deleting of the Welcome post of frontline Presidential Candidate at the forthcoming 2027 Election, Peter Obi of the National Democratic Congress, NDC, during the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, Football Match between Ikorodu United and Rangers International of Enugu State.
The Club Management stated that supporters of Obi Movement were using the post to score political points. But public backlash and speculation point to political pressure.
The former Labour Party Presidential Candidate at the 2023 Polls had attended an NPFL Matchday 6 fixture between Ikorodu City FC and Enugu Rangers at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, where Ikorodu City won 2-0. The club shared a welcome post on X (formerly Twitter) featuring photos of Obi in the VVIP section alongside club President, Sanmi Doherty and Lagos Island Constituency II House of Representatives Candidate, Aisha Jimoh.
Surprisingly, hours later, the club removed the post, triggering widespread online debate and criticism from fans and journalists who viewed it as a missed opportunity to market the domestic league.
Olawale Quadry, an Official of Ikorodu United defended the decision, explaining that it was an internal move because followers were hijacking the post to turn the football club’s page into a political tool.
Many observers and fans believe the deletion was driven by outside political pressure or fear of backlash from the ruling party, given Obi’s status as a prominent opposition figure.
Football journalist, Olawale Adigun questioned the decision. He had argued that visits by prominent personalities could help generate more attention for the domestic league.
“Ikorodu City wan rage bait me this morning with that nonsense they did yesterday. But let me allow.
“You could Famz the Politician, then suddenly you had a brain fart moment and realised his audience were taking advantage of it, which is not even true.
“What happened to trying to help to grow the league by attracting people like him,” Adigun wrote on his X page.
He argued that the club could have used Obi’s presence to boost visibility for the NPFL. Instead, they removed the post.
He further criticized Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu, for postponing the first Lagos Derby of the NPFL season for a political event.
“The State Governor, as a matter of fact postponed your biggest Derby in decades because of a political prayer meeting, not one post expressing angst, especially for a “privately run club”, Adigun wrote
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