Obi refutes questions authenticity of viral video linking him to saying 2023 election is religious war

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 20923 general elections, Peter Obi, has refuted the content of a perceived leaked phone call conversation with Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Winners Chapel, linking him to a statement that the 2023 general election was a religious war.
Bishop Oyedepo had at the Church’s Service last Sunday openly stated that he never campaigned for any politician or spoken to any group on their behalf. He asserted that virtually all the politicians contesting for positions come to him for prayers and advice, noting that some do not even accept his advice.
Meanwhile, on his Twitter handle disputed the authenticity of the audio, insisting that that he continuously focuses on issue-based campaign for the building of a new Nigeria governed by inclusion, justice, equity, fairness, and prosperity.
Obi had declared: “I repeatedly stated that no one should vote for me based on Tribe or Religion, but rather on the assessment of Character, Competence, Capacity, Credibility, and Compassion that can be trusted to create a New Nigeria!”
Obi, therefore, protested alleged attempts by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the APC-led government to divert attention from “our blatantly stolen mandate.” He said that these are being pursued through different ways, “such as the malicious accusation of the Minister of Information, Mr Lai Mohammed, the circulation of a fake doctored audio call, and a pressure on me to leave the country”.
He declared: “Let me reiterate that the audio call being circulated is fake, and at no time throughout the campaign and now did I ever say, think, or even imply that the 2023 election is, or was a religious war.”