Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has refuted viral photos on social media allegedly showing him in meetings with United States President Donald Trump and Lagos transport union leader, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Obi dismissed the photos and related claims as “fake and doctored,” clarifying that he has never held such meetings.
“One of such images purports to show me with US President Donald Trump, alongside a fabricated claim that he praised me. Another seeks to depict me with MC Oluomo in his office. Let me state categorically that both pictures are fake and doctored, and the accompanying stories are entirely false,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor cautioned that such fabrications demonstrate the dangers of disinformation in Nigeria’s political space, stressing that they are intentionally crafted to mislead the public.
“These fabrications highlight the persistent dangers of fake news and disinformation in our society. They are not only misleading but deliberately designed to confuse, misguide, and distract the public,” he said, urging Nigerians to always verify information before sharing it.
Obi further noted that if he had indeed held such meetings, he would have made them public himself. “My politics has never been about seeking praise or cheap publicity; it is about confronting the real problems of Nigeria and working towards solutions grounded in integrity, accountability, and transparency,” he stated.
He reaffirmed his commitment to addressing Nigeria’s key issues, including security, rule of law, education, healthcare, and poverty reduction, while restating his belief that “a new Nigeria is possible.”