A VIRAL post on X (formerly Twitter) by user @AmodaOgunlere claimed that Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and former governor of Anambra State, served as director general of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan.
The Securities and Exchange Commission is the primary regulatory institution overseeing Nigeria’s capital market.
The post challenged users to share videos highlighting Obi’s alleged achievements and reforms during his purported tenure as SEC director general, comparing him to the current SEC director general, Dr. Emomotimi Agama.
The caption says:
“Peter Obi was appointed as SEC Director General by GEJ, now show me one video of Peter Obi speaking on issues like this when he was head of SEC. Show me a single video of his reforms and achievement as head of SEC… I will withdraw my support for Tinubu ASAP!”
As of August 10, 2026, the post has garnered over 36,000 views, 190 retweets and over 400 likes.
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CLAIM
Post claims Peter Obi served as director general of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan.
FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.
A review of official government announcements and news archives from April 2015 found no evidence that Obi was ever appointed director general of the SEC.
On April 27, 2015, Jonathan appointed Obi as the Chairman of the SEC Board, a non-executive position. On the same day, Jonathan confirmed Mounir Haliru Gwarzo as the substantive director general of the SEC. Channels Television, Vanguard and other media houses reported the appointments.
The video attached to the viral post features the current director general of the SEC, Agama, discussing technical capital market reforms following the launch of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Payments Vision 2028.
In the broadcast, Agama explained how the capital market transitioned from a T+5 settlement timeline down to a T+1 settlement cycle, noting that shorter settlement times allow investors to access funds faster after completing transactions, in line with the Nigerian Capital Market Master Plan.
READ ALSO: Fact-checking Peter Obi’s claims on Channels TV
According to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the office of the director general, which was held by Mounir Gwarzo in 2015, is the apex of the SEC’s hierarchy. The office plays a pivotal role in overseeing the overall functions of the Commission and is responsible for setting its strategic direction in line with the broader objectives of Nigeria’s capital market.
While the page did not explicitly state the functions of the Chairman, the two positions are distinct and separate administrative offices within the SEC.
VERDICT
The claim that Peter Obi was director general of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is FALSE. Obi was appointed Chairman of the SEC Board in April 2015, while Mounir Gwarzo served as the director general.
Seasoned writer and literary curator, Zainab Abdulrasaq is a factchecker for The FactCheckHub in an effort to combat information disorder. She can be reached on IG @blackbookishgirl or zabdulrasaq@icirnigeria.org
 by user @AmodaOluwaseun claimed that former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, served as the Director General (DG) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under former President Goodluck Jonathan.){kind=link}