Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has warned online vendors, bloggers, and digital marketers against using his name and image for commercial purposes without authorization. Obi, in a statement issued on Thursday by his media aide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, condemned the growing trend of individuals and online businesses exploiting his popularity to promote products, solicit donations, or attract traffic to websites and social media pages. He described the act as deceitful and capable of misleading the public, adding that his name should not be associated with any commercial or political venture without his express consent.
My attention has been drawn to several online advertisements and social media posts using my name, image, or voice to promote products, investment schemes, and political campaigns. I wish to state clearly that I am not associated with any of these activities,” Obi said.
Anyone engaging in such unauthorized use of my identity is committing fraud and misleading innocent Nigerians. I warn them to desist immediately or face legal consequences.” Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party platform, said he had instructed his legal team to monitor the internet and take appropriate action against offenders.
Let it be clear that I have not endorsed any product, investment platform, or fundraising initiative online. Nigerians should disregard such content and verify any claims through my verified social media pages,” he added. He also appealed to regulatory agencies, including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), to clamp down on cyber fraudsters using the names of public figures to deceive the public.
We cannot continue to allow the internet to be a tool for fraud. Authorities must take stronger action to protect citizens from digital exploitation,” Obi said. The warning comes amid a surge in fake social media accounts and online adverts falsely linking the former Anambra governor to cryptocurrency platforms, investment apps, and product endorsements. Supporters have also expressed concern over the impersonation trend, urging the public to exercise caution and verify all information before engaging with online campaigns purportedly linked to Obi.
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