NDC Dismisses Peter Obi’s Gym Injury Rumours, Says Candidate Is in Good Health

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has dismissed reports that its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, sustained a neck injury in a gym accident, describing the claims and accompanying hospital photographs as false.

Obi’s spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr, said he saw the former Anambra State governor in good health before he boarded an international flight on November 1, 2026.

Zekeri made the clarification in a video shared online, where he dismissed the reports as misinformation. 

The claims had circulated on social media alongside photographs purporting to show Obi wearing a neck brace and receiving medical attention in a hospital.

A fact-check by FactWatch Nigeria found that the images were generated using artificial intelligence tools and that the claim of Obi’s hospitalisation was false. 

The organisation said its checks found no credible report of the alleged hospital admission as of November 1.

Zekeri’s clarification followed another post in which he praised Obi’s pace of political engagements, saying the NDC candidate completed a 34-hour round trip, spending 17 hours travelling in each direction, before attending a meeting with political candidates on November 3.

The post included a video showing Obi arriving at night and participating in discussions with other political figures and supporters.

Meanwhile, the NDC Campaign Council’s Deputy Spokesperson, Dr. Sam Omale, also addressed concerns about Obi’s health during an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday.

Omale said the presidential candidate was in good health but physically exhausted from his demanding campaign schedule, which involved frequent travel and several engagements.

He said Obi needed rest following his recent town hall meeting in Enugu State, adding that his packed schedule and tendency to handle several tasks at the same time had contributed to the exhaustion.

Omale maintained that the fatigue would not affect the party’s campaign activities ahead of the 2027 general election.

However, Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga also reacted to the reports in a post on X, saying Obi was not immune to illness like other people. 

He wrote: “So, Saint Peter Obi is not a Superman after all. He can fall ill like all mortals. I wish him a quick recovery so he can rejoin what looks like another doomed presidential campaign.”

Onanuga’s comment added to the political exchanges surrounding Obi’s health and campaign activities ahead of the 2027 general election.