By BONIFACE AKARAH

The Peter Obi Media Office (POMR) has condemned an AI-generated image depicting Peter Obi, Cardinal John Onaiyekan and Enugu State NDC governorship candidate, Sir Chinyeaka Oha, with Pope Leo XIV, accusing unnamed political opponents of dragging the Catholic Church into partisan campaigns.

In a statement issued on Thursday, October 22, 2026, and signed by POMR spokesman Idris Zekeri Jnr, the office described the image as deceptive and called on political actors to keep the Pope and the Catholic Church out of electoral contests.

The statement said the image purportedly showed Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, Onaiyekan and Oha standing before the Catholic Pontiff 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,” the statement said.

It described the alleged act as “misleading and entirely unwarranted,” adding that religious institutions should not be used to advance political interests.

“The Church is a sacred institution that must be respected rather than exploited for political gain,” the statement added.

POMR said Obi’s campaign was focused on addressing Nigeria’s economic and security challenges, including poverty, insecurity, corruption and economic hardship, as well as expanding opportunities for young people.

It said the campaign welcomed robust political debate and urged opponents to focus on issues affecting Nigerians rather than religious controversies.

“Let us debate our records, policies, competence, character, and vision for the country,” Obi was quoted as saying in the statement.

The former Anambra State governor, who is contesting the 2027 presidential election under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), was also quoted as expressing disappointment over the alleged incident.

“The 2027 election must focus on Nigeria’s future, not fabricated religious controversies,” he said.

The statement further urged political actors to allow the Pope and the Catholic Church 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,” Obi said.

The statement did not identify the individuals responsible for creating or circulating the image, and the allegation that it was AI-generated was not independently verified in the material provided.

It concluded with the campaign slogan: “A New Nigeria Is Possible.”

•The AI-generated image linking Obi and NDC Guber Candidate to Pope