Oseloka Obi, son of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, has denied rumours linking him to homosexuality following the circulation of viral photos on social media.
The images, which trended online for days this week, appeared to show him in the company of another man believed to be a romantic partner. The speculation led to widespread debate, with many critics seizing on the photos to attack his father ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Oseloka described the claims as “gossip” and “fiction spun from pictures,” insisting that he is not gay.
“I have refrained from engaging with the vitriol, scorn, and suspicion directed at me online because I was not raised to trade in lies or indulge in false narratives,” he wrote. “This pattern is familiar—individuals opposed to my father seize ordinary photos of me and repackage them with false stories.”
The UK-based actor and filmmaker stressed that his profession often requires him to portray characters different from himself, a reality which, he said, some have deliberately twisted to misrepresent him and embarrass his father.
“Unlike many children of Nigerian politicians, I have never relied on nepotism,” he added. “My chosen path is in theatre and filmmaking—an industry that embraces diversity. But to assume my roles reflect my personal life is absurd.”
Oseloka further urged Nigerians to focus on pressing national challenges rather than manufactured scandals. “Our country faces insecurity, a weak economy, crumbling infrastructure, and failing healthcare. Yet some would rather spread gossip about who Peter Obi’s son appears with in a photo,” he said.
While acknowledging that neither he nor his father is perfect, he maintained that Peter Obi is “a man of integrity” and “the right leader for Nigeria.”
Peter Obi, who came third in the 2023 presidential election, is widely expected to seek the presidency again in 2027.