Kenneth Okonkwo, the spokesperson for the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign, has confirmed the authenticity of the trending audio of a phone conversation between his principal, Peter Obi and Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church.

In the audio which was released by an online newspaper, Peoples Gazette, Obi solicited the support of Oyedepo to help get votes from Christians in South-West.

The former governor of Anambra State also stated that the votes were needed because the 2023 presidential election was a religious war.

“Daddy, I need you to speak to your people in the South-West and Kwara, the Christians in the South-West and Kwara.This is a religious war. Like I keep saying: if this works, you people will never regret the support,” he said in the audio.

The audio had attracted nationwide criticism against Mr Peter Obi, including from former Enugu state governor, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani and popular lawyer, Festus Keyamo.

Nnamani accused Peter Obi of weaponising ethnicity and religious bigotry to derail the nation.

In a statement on Sunday, Okonkwo verified the authenticity of the leaked tape.