2027: Leave Pope, church out of political campaigns, Obi tells opponents
By Henry Umoru
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC ahead of the 2027 elections, Peter Obi has urged political opponents to keep the Pope, Pope Leo XIV and the Catholic Church out of partisan campaigns.
The former Anambra State governor condemned in very strong terms the circulation of an artificial intelligence-generated image allegedly showing him and an Enugu State governorship candidate seeking Pope Leo XIV’s blessing for electoral victory, describing the image as misleading and unwarranted.
In a statement signed on Thursday by the Spokesman of his Campaign Media Office, POMR, Idris Zekeri, Obi said the office had become aware of the image depicting Cardinal John Onaiyekan and described in the statement as the NDC presidential candidate, and Sir Chinyeaka Oha, the party’s Enugu State governorship candidate, standing before the Catholic Pontiff.
The statement condemned the alleged use of artificial intelligence to create the image and urged political actors to refrain from involving religious leaders and institutions in partisan disputes.
Obi maintained that his political campaign focused on addressing Nigeria’s pressing challenges, including poverty, insecurity, corruption and economic hardship. He also highlighted the need to expand opportunities for young people and build a country where citizens could live with dignity and hope.
He challenged political opponents to focus their campaigns on policy issues, records and leadership capacity rather than religious controversies.
He expressed disappointment over the incident, insisting that the 2027 general election should centre on Nigeria’s future and the issues affecting citizens, just as he also called for the Pope and the Catholic Church to be allowed to carry out their spiritual responsibilities without being drawn into partisan political disputes.
The statement read, “The Peter Obi Media Office has become aware of a deceptive AI-generated image depicting the NDC Presidential Candidate, revered Cardinal John Onaiyekan, and the Enugu State NDC gubernatorial candidate, Sir Chinyeaka Oha, standing before the Catholic Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, and seeking his blessing for electoral victory.
“The Media Office strongly condemns this conduct and calls on political opponents to stop involving the Holy Father, the Pope, and the Catholic Church in partisan campaigns. Such an act is misleading and entirely unwarranted.
“The Church is a sacred institution that must be respected rather than exploited for political gain.
Peter Obi’s campaign is centred on issues. It seeks to rescue Nigeria from poverty, insecurity, corruption, and economic hardship; expand opportunities for our youths; and build a nation in which every Nigerian can live with dignity and hope.
“He also welcomes vigorous political debate and challenges his opponents to address Nigerians on these urgent matters. “Let us debate our records, policies, competence, character, and vision for the country.”
“The 2027 election must focus on Nigeria’s future, not fabricated religious controversies,” Obi said, expressing his disappointment over the incident.
“The Pope and the Catholic Church should be permitted to carry out their spiritual responsibilities without being drawn into partisan disputes.
“Let us keep the Church separate from politics and focus the campaign on the genuine issues facing Nigerians. A New Nigeria Is Possible.”
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