A photograph showing Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), standing beside Bola Tinubu, president-elect, has gone viral on social media.
In what appeared to be a courtesy visit, Obi is flanked by Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, to the right, while Tinubu is flanked by Aliko Dangote, chief executive officer of the Dangote Group, and Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, to the left.
On March 1, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Tinubu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the election.
Obi said he would challenge the process leading to Tinubu’s declaration as the president-elect, alleging irregularities by the electoral commission.
On Saturday, @Revsesan1, a Twitter user, posted the viral photo, saying the LP presidential candidate visited the president-elect to begin reconciliation.
“The Labor Party Presidential candidate H.E Peter Obi visited the President-Elect Tinubu. The Reconciliation & Nation Building has started. Obidients accept the will of God & join us in building a better & greater Nigeria,” he tweeted.
Another Twitter user, @Laaycon, also posted the photo advising Obi supporters dubbed “Obidients” not to be swindled by the people in the photo.
“Obi can famz ehn . … OBIdients, don’t let these people use and dump you,” the tweet which had over 200 views reads.
After Jumat…Meeting with zaddy from left..
Small Srulere Zaddy
BIGGER ZADDY
ZADDY OF ZADDIES.
ZAD
LAGOS ZADDY pic.twitter.com/i5Z5kUgga1
— LUCA BRASI -5.0 The UnderBoss (@donortez) April 28, 2023
Obi can famz ehn . … OBIdients, don’t let these people use and dump you https://t.co/4ptJwQCBoR
— QUADRI 🕊️ (@Laaycon) April 28, 2023
*OBI VISITED TINUBU*
The Labor Party Presidential candidate H.E Peter Obi visited the President Elect Tinubu. The Reconciliation & Nation Building has started. Obidients accept the will of God & join us in building a better & greater Nigeria. Let us all make Nigeria safe and pic.twitter.com/CStczbAEIF
— Revsesan ogunwomoju (@Revsesan1) April 29, 2023
VERIFICATION
TheCable subjected the picture to a Google reverse image search and discovered that the earliest post of the picture was on Friday from @donortez, a Twitter user.
His tweet has gathered 86.8k views, 652 likes, 154 retweets, and 172 comments so far.
After Jumat…Meeting with zaddy from left..
Small Srulere Zaddy
BIGGER ZADDY
ZADDY OF ZADDIES.
ZAD
LAGOS ZADDY pic.twitter.com/i5Z5kUgga1
— LUCA BRASI -5.0 The UnderBoss (@donortez) April 28, 2023
A look through the comments showed that some users pointed out that the picture was photoshopped. @donortez did not deny the allegations.
Lol nice photoshop😂😂😂😂
— Emrexofficial (@Emrexreal) April 28, 2023
Very poor Photoshop. Try something better, Mr learner!
— Henry (@anyanwuhenry01) April 28, 2023
😂😂 Luca no Dey photoshop DEPORTivo Obi anyhow na
— Distinguished BushPilot Iby (@Blakjizuz) April 28, 2023
A further keyword search showed that the original photograph was taken when Dangote and Femi Otedola, billionaire businessman, visited Tinubu in Abuja on March 3.
VERDICT
The photo showing Obi and Tinubu alongside other government stakeholders is photoshopped.
