RismadarVoice Reporters
October 22, 2026
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged political opponents to stop involving Pope Leo XIV and the Catholic Church in partisan activities ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The former Anambra State governor made the appeal following the circulation of an image allegedly generated using artificial intelligence, depicting him and other prominent figures seeking the Pope’s blessing for electoral victory.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his media office and signed by its spokesperson, Idris Zekeri, Obi condemned the image as misleading and an inappropriate attempt to introduce religious controversy into the political process.
According to the statement, the disputed image purportedly showed Obi, former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Cardinal John Onaiyekan, and the NDC governorship candidate in Enugu State, Sir Chinyeaka Oha, standing before Pope Leo XIV.
Obi’s media office maintained that the image falsely suggested that the political figures had approached the pontiff to seek spiritual endorsement for their electoral ambitions.
The office described the development as an unacceptable use of religious personalities and institutions in political campaigns.
It urged political actors to respect the Catholic Church’s spiritual responsibilities and refrain from portraying religious leaders as participants in partisan contests.
Obi also challenged his opponents to focus on substantive national issues rather than controversies involving religious institutions.
He identified poverty, insecurity, corruption, economic hardship and limited opportunities for young Nigerians as challenges that should dominate political discussions ahead of the elections.
According to the former governor, campaigns should provide opportunities for candidates to present their records, policies, leadership credentials and plans for addressing the country’s problems.
He maintained that Nigerians deserved meaningful engagement on governance and national development instead of disputes arising from allegedly fabricated digital content.
The NDC presidential candidate further argued that the Catholic Church should be allowed to carry out its religious responsibilities without becoming entangled in political disagreements.
The controversy comes amid growing concerns about the possible misuse of artificial intelligence-generated images and other manipulated digital materials during election campaigns.
Such content can create misleading impressions about political endorsements, meetings and statements, particularly when circulated without adequate verification.
However, the identity of the person or group responsible for creating and distributing the disputed image has not been independently established.
There is also no verified evidence that Pope Leo XIV endorsed Obi or the NDC candidates for the 2027 elections.
Obi called on political parties and their supporters to prioritise issue-based campaigns and keep religious institutions separate from partisan competition.
