JUST IN: Peter Obi accuses opposition of spreading fake news

The Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Thursday, raised the alarm that opposition political parties have adopted a “negative strategy” ahead of the 2023 election campaign.

He alleged that the opposition has been spreading misinformation on both traditional and social media platforms and blaming it on LP.

The former Anambra State governor made the allegation in a series of tweets on his Twitter page on Thursday.

He, however, said that his party would remain resolute and committed to an issue-based campaign.

“As we approach the official kick-off of the 2023 election campaign, it has become evident that the opposition has adopted a negative strategy of trolling and insinuating fake news and misinformation in the social media space and blaming the Labour Party, its presidential candidate and their supporters of same. We remain resolute in our commitment to an issue-based and clean campaign.

“We will also rebuff all such ploys of deceit and calumny meant to create disaffection among Nigeria’s voting population, who desire credible leadership change. – PO”

The PUNCH reports that Obi’s Media Adviser, Valentine Obienyem, on August 10, 2022, assured that his principal’s campaign would be based on issues and not personality when it starts.

This is as he noted that the former governor aligned with the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, on issue-based campaign for the 2023 general election.

Obienyem said Tinubu’s campaign organisation’s call for an issue-based campaign exactly mirrored what Obi had propagated over the years.

According to him, if supporters were mindful of this, some articles published in some newspapers against Obi would not have been published, including those with offensive titles.

“Right from Obi’s position as the governor, he was not known for the habit of attacking people or building lies against others,” the statement added.