Obi debunks doctored photos with Trump, MC Oluomo, warns against fake news

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has dismissed pictures circulating on social media purporting to show him in meetings with United States President Donald Trump and Lagos transport union leader Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo.

In a statement on Wednesday, Obi described the images and accompanying claims as “fake and doctored,” stressing that he has not held such meetings.

Doctored image of Peter Obi and Donald Trump

“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 warned that such fabrications highlight the dangers of disinformation in Nigeria’s political space, noting that they are deliberately designed to mislead and distract 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 verify information before sharing it.

Doctored image of Peter Obi and MC Oluomo

Obi emphasised that if he had held any 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 reiterated his focus on addressing Nigeria’s core challenges – security, rule of law, education, healthcare, and poverty reduction – while restating his conviction that “a new Nigeria is possible.”