Popular Nigerian blogger Linda Ikeji has dismissed the widely circulated claim that Margaret Obi, wife of 2027 presidential hopeful Peter Obi, was carrying a handbag worth ₦250 million.

The controversy began after photographs and videos of Margaret Obi carrying a luxury handbag circulated widely on social media. Online commentators attempted to identify the designer and attach a value running into hundreds of millions of naira.

Some social media users identified the handbag as a Hermès Kelly 35 in Malachite and circulated a reported price of £131,938.81, which they converted to approximately ₦237 million. Other reports subsequently rounded the figure up to ₦250 million.

However, the exact identity and value of Margaret Obi’s particular handbag have not been independently established. A recent report noted that the viral £131,938.81 price appears to relate to a different Hermès model and should not automatically be treated as evidence of what Margaret’s handbag cost.

 Linda Ikeji Challenges the ₦250m Bag Claim

Reacting to the debate, Linda Ikeji urged Nigerians to calm down, arguing that her experience with high-end designer handbags gave her a basis to question the ₦250 million valuation.

“Relax people… this is not a N250m bag,” Linda wrote in a post shared online. She added that if the handbag were actually worth that amount, she questioned whether Margaret Obi would be travelling with it.

Linda also said she was familiar with the prices of luxury handbags because she owns several designer pieces herself. Her comments were subsequently widely shared as the debate over Margaret’s handbag continued.

The controversy has generated different reactions online, with some commentators focusing on the reported cost of the handbag and others arguing that Margaret Obi’s personal fashion choices should not automatically be connected to her husband’s political activities.

The debate has also drawn attention because of Peter Obi’s public reputation for advocating prudent management of resources and reducing the cost of governance.

Peter Obi Responds to the Controversy

Peter Obi has also addressed the discussion surrounding his wife’s handbag, saying Margaret has her own business and source of income.

The former Anambra State governor said his wife manages her personal finances independently and that he does not keep track of the prices of the bags, shoes and other personal items she owns.

“I don’t know how many dresses, bags, shoes, or whatever my wife has,” Obi said, according to reports. “She has her own money. So if she has her own money and wants to buy an expensive watch, that’s her own.”

Obi also used the opportunity to distinguish his family’s private spending from his handling of public resources while in office.

He maintained that his concern during his time in government was to ensure that his family’s personal activities did not interfere with the management of public funds.

The comments have added another dimension to the social-media debate, which has increasingly moved beyond the handbag itself to questions about personal wealth, political image and the extent to which the lifestyles of politicians and their families should attract public scrutiny.

What Is Known About the Handbag’s Price?

Despite the attention generated by the ₦250 million figure, there is currently no confirmed evidence establishing that Margaret Obi paid that amount for the handbag.

Luxury Hermès pieces can vary significantly in value depending on the exact model, material, size, condition, provenance and whether the item is purchased directly from the manufacturer or through the secondary market.

Reports have also questioned whether the handbag circulating in the viral images was correctly identified as the Hermès Kelly 35 associated with the £131,938.81 listing. One recent report instead described the bag as appearing to be an exotic-skin Hermès Birkin and said the viral price may have resulted from a misidentification.

As a result, the ₦250 million figure is best treated as a widely circulated online estimate rather than a verified purchase price.

For now, Linda Ikeji’s intervention has added another voice to a controversy that continues to attract attention, while Peter Obi’s response has focused on his wife’s financial independence and the distinction between private spending and public resources.