Peter Obi - the Labour Party presidential candidate in Nigeria's 2023 elections has reiterated his dissociation from online promotions exploiting his name and image, urging the public to ignore such deceptive ads and rely only on verified channels for authentic information.

In a statement shared on his official X account, Obi described the persistent misuse as fraudulent and aimed at misleading Nigerians for commercial gain.

"I have no connection whatsoever with any of these endorsements or promotional activities," he said, adding that he has never authorized anyone to use his identity for profit-making ventures.

The disclaimer follows similar alerts from Obi in recent months, including one in late September, as scammers continue to leverage his public profile amid Nigeria's booming digital economy.

Authorities have not yet reported specific arrests tied to this wave, but Obi's team emphasized that genuine updates will come solely through official platforms.

Obi, who garnered significant youth support in the 2023 elections, has become a frequent target for such schemes, with fraudsters peddling everything from investment schemes to product endorsements.

The statement comes as cybersecurity experts note a rise in celebrity impersonation scams across Africa, with losses running into millions annually.