{
  "id": 17703737,
  "title": "Obi not hospitalised, spokesman dismisses viral gym injury report",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/obi-not-hospitalised-spokesman-dismisses-viral-gym-injury-report",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-01T23:52:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/obi-not-hospitalised-spokesman-dismisses-viral-gym-injury-report/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The viral claim that Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi was hospitalized after breaking his neck in a gym is being dismissed as false by his spokesman, Idris Zekeri, according to an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday. Zekeri accused Obi's political opponents of fabricating the story to gain cheap political points ahead of the 2027 presidential election. When contacted, Zekeri laughed and dismissed the report as a malicious attempt to spread misinformation. He stated that Obi was in good health and on his way to an international engagement when he took the photos circulating on social media. Zekeri emphasized that Obi was safe, sound, and in the best state of health, both physically and mentally, and ready to continue engaging with Nigerians as they prepare to unseat the APC. He declined to disclose details about Obi's destination, citing the lack of authorization to release such information.",
  "summary": "The camp of the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has dismissed a viral report and photographs circulating on social media claiming that the former Anambra State governor was hospitalised after breaking his neck in a gym. Obi’s spokesman, Idris Zekeri, described the report as false in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Read More:…",
  "key_points": [
    "Peter Obi not hospitalized despite viral claim",
    "Spokesman Idris Zekeri dismisses injury report",
    "Obi in good health, preparing for 2027 election"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The dismissal of these injury rumors highlights how misinformation campaigns targeting high-profile candidates are becoming a central tactic for political opponents ahead of the upcoming presidential election.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}