The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, has alleged that other political parties have adopted the strategy of trolling, spreading misinformation and putting the blame on his party as the 2023 election draws closer.
The former governor of Anambra State made this claim on his Twitter, yesterday.
He wrote: “As we approach the official kick off of the 2023 election campaign, it has become evident that the opposition have 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 Nigerians voting population, who desire credible leadership change.”
Last week, Obi has endorsed the call by Ahmed Bola Tinubu for the campaign, whenever it starts, to be based on issues and not personality.
Obi was reacting to the call by Tinubu, through his campaign organisation, for the candidates and their supporters to base their electioneering on issues that would, in their words, “advance the growth, progress and stability of Nigeria”.
A statement signed by Obi’s Media Adviser, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, said the statement by APC advising candidates to “desist from spreading lies, malice and denigrating other candidates,” exactly mirrored what Obi had propagated over the years.
He said right from Obi’s position as governor, he was not known for the habit of attacking people or building lies against others.
Obienyem said Obi’s disposition was contrary to those of some of his opponents, who, he said, actually originated most of those fake news, published them under false names and turned round to ascribe them to Obi or his supporters.