A viral image suggesting that Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, knelt before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican has been exposed as fake and digitally manipulated, according to a comprehensive fact-check by PRNigeria.
The controversial image, which circulated widely on Facebook and other social media platforms, shows President Tinubu seated while a man resembling Peter Obi appears to kneel before him. The image was captioned with politically charged rhetoric, sparking heated online debates, with many users questioning Obi’s integrity and accusing him of hypocrisy and political desperation.
The viral claim followed the recent inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, born Cardinal Robert Prevost, an American cleric formerly based in South America and at the Vatican. The event, held on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at St. Peter’s Basilica, was attended by world leaders, including Nigeria’s President Tinubu and U.S. President Joe Biden. Contrary to some misinformation, Biden—not former President Donald Trump—issued the official White House statement recognizing the pontiff’s election as a historic milestone for the Catholic Church.
PRNigeria launched an investigation using reverse image search and digital forensic tools. Their analysis revealed several indicators of image tampering. Peter Obi’s face appears artificially inserted, with unrealistic posture and proportions. Inconsistencies between the lighting on the figures and the Vatican background suggest artificial layering. Rough edges and visible cut marks around Obi’s figure indicate the use of low-quality photo editing software. The background was traced to publicly available stock photos of Vatican interiors, which have been used in unrelated montages.
On May 15, Tinubu’s media adviser, Bayo Onanuga, had confirmed via his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle that the President was officially invited to attend Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration. While it is true that Peter Obi was also present at the event, no credible media outlet reported any incident of him kneeling before the Nigerian President. Verified reports instead noted that Obi exchanged respectful greetings with Tinubu, in the company of former Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
In a statement published by Politics Digest, Valentine Obienyem, media adviser to Peter Obi, dismissed the viral photo as “clearly photoshopped.” He further debunked another doctored image purporting to show Obi shaking hands with the late Pope Francis, clarifying that only heads of state and official diplomats were granted audiences with the Holy Father—criteria Obi did not meet. Obienyem criticized the weaponisation of a sacred religious event for political mischief. He urged Nigerians to focus on the pope’s core message of peace, justice, and ethical leadership, rather than be misled by disinformation and propaganda.
No evidence supports the claim that Peter Obi knelt before President Tinubu at the Vatican. PRNigeria’s forensic analysis confirms the viral image is fabricated and intended to mislead the public for political motives.
The image circulating online depicting Peter Obi kneeling before President Tinubu is digitally altered and false. No such incident occurred at the Vatican.
