A respected journalist, author, and columnist, Ike Abonyi, has debunked allegations by social media activist, Deji Adeyanju, that the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, attempted to buy his support with money.
In a statement on Friday, Abonyi, who said he personally arranged and attended the meeting between Obi and Adeyanju ahead of the 2023 elections, described Adeyanju’s claims as “blatant falsehood.”
“I was at the meeting Deji had with Obi and was there all through. None of the things Deji claimed ever happened. No money was offered during or after the meeting, and there was no promise of any to the best of my knowledge,” Abonyi stated.
The journalist explained that the three-hour meeting, held in 2022, was aimed at exploring Adeyanju’s possible candidacy for the AMAC House of Representatives seat under the Labour Party—not an inducement scheme.
He recalled that in July 2022, Adeyanju had also alleged that Obi was open to accepting an appointment from then APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, a claim Abonyi said he had privately challenged at the time.
“It would be unfair to my conscience as a Christian and a journalist to allow Deji Adeyanju to continue with this false narrative. Obi simply shared his life and political journey as he has always done publicly. Nothing more,” he added.
Abonyi expressed disappointment that Adeyanju, now a lawyer, would still be, in his words, “on a voyage of blackmail,” urging him to embrace truth and integrity if he truly wishes to grow in his career.
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