Oseloka Obi, son of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, has denied rumours linking him to homosexuality after viral photos sparked online speculation this week.
The images, which trended for days on social media, appeared to show him alongside another man alleged to be a romantic partner. The circulation quickly triggered debate, with critics using the photos to attack his father ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Oseloka dismissed 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.”
Valentine Obienyem, media aide to the former Anambra governor, confirmed the development on Thursday night.
Oseloka, a UK-based actor and filmmaker, stressed that his profession often requires him to play characters different from himself, a reality he said some have twisted to smear him and embarrass his father.
“Unlike many children of Nigerian politicians, I have never relied on nepotism,” he said. “My chosen path is in theatre and filmmaking—an industry that embraces diversity. But to assume my roles reflect my personal life is absurd.”
He further urged Nigerians to focus on critical national issues 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 stated.
While acknowledging that neither he nor his father is perfect, Oseloka maintained that Peter Obi remains “a man of integrity” and “the right leader for Nigeria.”
Peter Obi, who came third in the 2023 presidential election, is widely expected to contest again in 2027.
