The Presidential Candidate of Labour Party ahead of 2023 election,Peter Obi, has been dragged to court for allegedly involving an underage girl-child in his political rally in Lagos.
The suit marked ID/6332GCM/2022, was filed by a child rights activist,Amb. Wale Ojo-Lanre at the Ikeja High Court. He said“ The first defendant allowed participation and usage of a toddler in an adult political rally, which took place on the street of Lagos on October 1.This is contrary to Sections 29 and 33 of the Child Rights Act of Lagos State and Article 36 of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Children, 1981.We seek an order for the first and second respondents to delete their respective tweets and several other posts on their social media accounts in reference to the underage girl-child.“We also seek an order mandating the fourth and fifth respondents to withdraw the toddler from the care and custody of the third respondent.“We are seeking court order to foster the child to any welfare home under the accreditation and supervision of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs or other appropriate authorities for proper care, education, protection and upbringing until she turns 18 years.“In addition, we seek an order to disqualify the second respondent from participating in the 2023 presidential election for condoning, adopting, encouraging and allowing the usage of the toddler for his rally”
The petitioner however seeks for an award of N50 million damages for the violation of the child rights of the underage girl-child.According to him, it is illegal, exploitative, and abusive for the presidential hopeful to post the picture and video of the toddler via his Twitter handle dated October 2 to refer to her as “a poster child.” 
Meanwhile, the case has not been fixed for hearing.
