You’ve seen the clips. The "L" sign held behind Rishi Sunak’s head. The "Niko Omilana for Prime Minister" posters plastered across 11 different constituencies. The sheer chaos of a YouTuber with nearly 8 million subscribers claiming he was going to take over 10 Downing Street. If you’re asking is Niko Omilana Prime Minister, the short, boring answer is no. But the long answer is a lot more interesting, involves some legal gymnastics, and actually forced the UK’s electoral police to get involved.
Honestly, it’s kinda wild.
The 2024 Election: How Niko Tried to "Win"
In the summer of 2024, the UK went to the polls. While the Labour Party was busy winning a landslide victory, Niko Omilana—the founding father of the NDL (Niko Defence League)—was running a parallel campaign that felt like a fever dream. He didn’t just run in one place. He managed to get the name "Niko Omilana" on the ballot in 11 different constituencies simultaneously.
Wait, is that legal?
Strictly speaking, no. You cannot stand as a candidate in more than one constituency in a UK General Election. Doing so is a criminal offense under the Representation of the People Act. The Electoral Commission and multiple police forces, including West Midlands Police and North Yorkshire Police, were "made aware" of the situation.
But Niko had a loophole. He didn’t just clone himself; he reportedly convinced 10 other people to legally change their names to "Niko Omilana" via deed poll. Each of these "Nikos" had a different address and different sets of people signing their nomination papers. It was a logistical nightmare for the authorities and a masterclass in trolling for his audience.
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Who is the actual Prime Minister?
Just to be 100% clear: is Niko Omilana Prime Minister right now? No. The actual Prime Minister is Sir Keir Starmer, who took office on July 5, 2024.
Niko himself actually stood in the Richmond and Northallerton constituency. That’s the same seat as the former Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. Niko’s goal wasn't really to lead the country; it was to "remove" Sunak from politics and, as he put it, "declare myself Prime Minister" if he got the most votes.
He didn't.
In that specific race, the results looked like this:
- Rishi Sunak (Conservative): 23,059 votes (Winner)
- Tom Wilson (Labour): 10,874 votes
- Niko Omilana (Independent): 160 votes
He didn't win, but he did manage to get on the stage during the results announcement. That’s where the viral moment happened—Niko standing directly behind a defeated Rishi Sunak, holding up a piece of paper with a giant "L" on it. It was the ultimate prank, but it didn't come with a seat in Parliament.
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Why people thought he had a chance
It sounds ridiculous to think a YouTuber could run a country. But Niko has a track record of actually getting votes. Back in 2021, he ran for Mayor of London. He wasn't just a joke candidate; he came in fifth place.
He got 49,628 votes.
That’s nearly 50,000 real people who walked into a polling station and put a cross next to his name. He beat established politicians and controversial figures like Laurence Fox and Piers Corbyn. He did it all with a manifesto that included things like turning McDonald's into social housing and removing the teeth of racists.
People like Niko because he highlights how weird and stuffy British politics can be. He treats the whole system like a game, which resonates with a generation that feels like the system doesn't represent them anyway. When he says he’s running for Prime Minister, his fans know it’s a prank, but they also kinda wish the "vibes" of the NDL were actually in charge.
The Legal Fallout and the "L"
Running as "Niko Omilana" in multiple places wasn't just fun and games. The penalty for making a false statement on nomination papers can include unlimited fines or even up to a year in prison. The authorities had to take the forms at "face value" initially because that's how the law works—returning officers aren't private investigators.
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Once the election ended, the hype died down, and the NDL moved on to the next Beta Squad video. But for a few weeks in 2024, the question of whether a YouTuber could disrupt a national election was very real.
He didn't become the PM. He didn't even become an MP. But he did prove that with a legal name change and a massive YouTube following, you can make the entire British political establishment very, very nervous.
What to do next if you're following the NDL
If you’re still looking for the "Prime Minister" of the NDL, you won't find him in 10 Downing Street. You'll find him on YouTube. To stay updated on what actually happens with Niko's political stunts, you should check the official UK Electoral Commission website for candidate rules or follow reputable news outlets like the BBC or Sky News for any updates on the police investigations into the 2024 ballot name-changes.
If you're interested in the actual governance of the UK, the official gov.uk website tracks every move of the Starmer administration. But if you just want to see a guy put a bucket on his head and sneak into places he shouldn't be, the NDL YouTube channel is still the only place where Niko holds any real power.