Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has dismissed viral photos suggesting he recently met with former U.S. President Donald Trump and NURTW Chairman Musiliu “MC Oluomo” Akinsanya, describing them as fake and fabricated.

In a statement shared on his X handle on Wednesday titled “Clarification on Fake News and Photos,” Obi said the images and stories attached to them were designed to mislead the public.

“My attention has been drawn to some pictures currently circulating on social media, falsely portraying meetings I never had. 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. I have not met Mr Trump recently, nor have I had any such meeting with MC Oluomo.”

Obi said the incident underscores the danger of fake news and disinformation, describing them as attempts “deliberately designed to confuse, misguide, and distract the public.”

“For the avoidance of doubt, if I had such meetings, I would have personally made them public on my X handle. My politics has never been about seeking praise or cheap publicity; it is about confronting the real problems of Nigeria,” he stated.

He reaffirmed that his focus remains on addressing insecurity, strengthening the rule of law, improving education and healthcare, and lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty.