Peter Obi Denies Viral Claims of Meeting Donald Trump, Calls It Political Misinformation

Onyenobi Chinwendu Samuel

September 24, 2025

Abuja Nigeria 🇳🇬 – In the latest wave of political misinformation circulating on social media, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate and current opposition figure, Peter Obi, has denied reports that he met with former United States President Donald J. Trump.

The controversy began after viral Facebook and Twitter posts, accompanied by doctored images, claimed that Obi had met Trump in the United States, with the ex-president allegedly praising him as “the hope for a greater Nigeria.” The story quickly spread across various platforms, prompting discussions among political supporters and critics alike.

However, in a statement issued by his media office on September 23, 2025, Obi described the reports as false and misleading. He insisted that he had not met Trump nor any of the other personalities falsely linked to him. “If such a meeting had taken place, Nigerians would have heard it directly from me through my verified platforms. I will not allow propaganda or doctored photos to mislead the public,” Obi clarified.

Fact-checking organizations, including Africa Check and AFP Fact Check, have since confirmed that no credible evidence exists to support the claim of a meeting. Investigations show that the images circulating online were manipulated or taken out of context, with no official documentation of any engagement between Obi and Trump.

Political analysts believe the viral misinformation reflects the growing use of disinformation in Nigeria’s electoral climate. With Obi’s increasing involvement in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a coalition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections, the circulation of such claims could be an attempt to sway public perception ; either to boost his profile artificially or to discredit him by later exposing the reports as false.

For the ADC, the incident underscores the party’s dual challenge: building credibility as a serious opposition force while fending off politically motivated fake news. Observers argue that the episode may even strengthen Obi’s narrative of authentic leadership if handled transparently.

Ultimately, while the rumoured meeting with Trump never occurred, the event demonstrates how misinformation can shape political debates in Nigeria. It also highlights the urgent need for media literacy, fact-checking, and responsible reporting as the nation prepares for another heated electoral cycle.