YouTube Prankster’s Multiple Candidacies Spark Election Controversy in the U.K.

Niko Omilana

YouTube star Niko Omilana has registered as a candidate for Member of Parliament (MP) in 11 different constituencies in the U.K., potentially violating the U.K. Electoral Commission’s rules. In a video, Omilana, known for his pranks, said he aims to “completely remove” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak from politics. Omilana criticized Sunak’s proposed military service, stating, “Rishi Sunak wants to send young people to war. So I have decided to declare war on the system.”

Omilana has over seven million subscribers on YouTube and is known for his dramatic and risky stunts. In 2019, he attempted to sneak into the KSI v. Logan Paul boxing rematch and enter the ring.

In 2021, he ran for mayor of London in the municipal elections, receiving nearly 50,000 votes as an independent candidate. A video he made about the experience, titled “How I Won the London Mayor Election,” is highly popular, with over 16 million views on YouTube.

The U.K. Electoral Commission is aware of the situation and says that any action would be taken by the police.

“We are aware that the same person has been nominated as a candidate in a number of constituencies at the general election. Candidates must confirm in their nomination papers that they are not standing in any other constituency. It is an offence for an individual to provide false information on nomination papers when applying to stand as a candidate, including to falsely confirm that they are not standing in another constituency. If that has occurred, it would be a matter for the police to consider,” the Electoral Commission said in an emailed statement to TIME. 

They also added that under electoral law, officers must take the details provided in candidate nomination forms at “face value.” This means that as long as the nomination meets the requirements, the Electoral Commission will not investigate or research the information provided by the candidate.

If an individual is found to have given a false statement on a nomination form, that person could face legal consequences.

Per reports, West Midlands Police has received information about Omilana’s name appearing multiple times on ballot papers in the area and is “liaising with the relevant authorities.”

TIME has reached out to the relevant police authorities for comment and further information.