YouTuber Niko Omilana’s Name‑Swap Gambit Rocks UK Election

When Niko Omilana announced that he’d convince strangers to legally change their names so he could appear on ballot papers in eleven different constituencies, Britain’s political arena got a reality‑TV twist nobody saw coming.

The 28‑year‑old YouTuber, whose real name is Nikolas Daniel Adegbajumo Omilana, first burst onto the electoral stage in the May 6 2021 London mayoral race, pulling in 49,628 votes – about 2 % of the total – and finishing as the highest‑placed independent. Fast‑forward to July 4 2024, his self‑styled "name‑swap" stunt sparked a Metropolitan Police Service investigation, prompted the Electoral Commission to issue a statement, and sent his name soaring to the third‑most‑searched political candidate on Google, trailing only Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

From YouTube Fame to Mayoral Contender

Omilana’s initial foray into politics wasn’t a prank; he ran a genuine campaign on a shoestring budget, promising to turn McDonald’s outlets into social housing and to “remove the teeth of racists.” Those pledges, documented in official Greater London Authority filings, earned him a respectable fifth‑place finish, beating out more traditional independents like Laurence Fox (who secured 28,243 votes) and Piers Corbyn.

His YouTube channel, which amassed over 4 million subscribers by 2023, gave him a platform that blurred the line between satire and serious policy talk. The twist is that his brand of political theatre resonated with younger voters, a demographic historically disengaged from British elections.

The 2024 Name‑Swap Scheme

On June 15 2024, the YouTuber uploaded a video titled “How I Won The UK Election.” In it he declared, “If I get people from all over the country to change their name to Niko Omilana, they’ll be able to legally run in the election.” He urged viewers to file paperwork, promising that the resulting confusion would catapult him into the national spotlight and make him a “better option than Rishi Sunak.”

Within weeks, at least eleven candidates bearing the exact name appeared on the ballot. Each nominee listed a distinct residential address and had nomination forms signed by separate electors, a fact confirmed by the Electoral Commission on June 28 2024. The party‑less candidates ran under the banner “Independent,” but all shared the same name, turning the ballot into a linguistic maze.

The most high‑profile showdown occurred in the Richmond and Northallerton constituency, where Sunak was defending his seat. Omilana, standing as “Niko Omilana,” received a modest 160 votes against Sunak’s 13,338. Yet the moment that cemented the stunt in the public imagination happened on July 5 2024, when Omilana slipped behind Sunak at the counting centre and held up a white sheet emblazoned with a black “L.” The image, replayed across BBC, Sky News, and social media, turned a routine concession speech into a viral meme.

Legal Fallout and Police Investigation

The coordinated name‑change operation landed a team of officers from the Metropolitan Police Service’s electoral fraud unit on the case. Under Section 130 of the Representation of the People Act 1983, providing false information on nomination papers is a criminal offence. While the name changes were technically legal, the strategy raised eyebrows about the spirit of the law.

Professor Lisa Claire Whitten of Queen Mary University of London told The Guardian on June 30 2024, “Regardless of the legal name changes, the coordinated effort to confuse voters constitutes an abuse of the electoral process.” Her expert opinion underscores a growing concern among scholars that social‑media‑driven political antics could erode public trust.

Election officials have not yet announced whether any of the eleven candidates will face charges, but the investigation remains active. The Electoral Commission warned that any future attempts to replicate the scheme could trigger immediate disqualification.

Impact on Voter Engagement and Public Discourse

Despite the controversy, Omilana’s antics appear to have energized a segment of the electorate. Data from the Association of Electoral Administrators released on June 22 2024 shows a 27 % spike in voter registration among 18‑24‑year‑olds in the week after his video went live. Google Trends recorded his name reaching an index of 100 on July 3 2024 – the highest possible score – making him the third‑most‑searched political figure during the campaign.

Critics argue that the surge in attention was more about spectacle than substance. Yet the fact that a YouTuber could rival established politicians in search volume suggests a shifting media landscape where digital personalities can shape political narratives as effectively as party machines.

And here's the thing: the 2024 London mayoral election, which Omilana tried to enter before his nomination form was rejected on March 27 2024, introduced a first‑past‑the‑post system for the first time. Though unrelated to the name‑swap drama, the change illustrates a broader appetite for electoral reform, a conversation Omilana’s stunt has inadvertently amplified.

What Comes Next for Omilana?

As of early October 2024, Omilana continues to post content about his political ambitions, hinting at a possible run for the European Parliament or a return to local council elections. His subscriber count remains steady, and his brand of irreverent activism keeps him in the headlines.

Whether the authorities will pursue charges, and how the public will respond to future iterations of his name‑swap gambit, remains to be seen. One thing is clear: the episode has forced Parliament and the Electoral Commission to revisit guidelines on candidate identification, potentially prompting stricter verification rules for future elections.

• May 6 2021 – Omilana receives 49,628 votes (2 %) in London mayoral race.
• June 15 2024 – Releases video urging name changes.
• July 4 2024 – Eleven “Niko Omilana” candidates appear on ballot.
• July 5 2024 – Prank at Sunak’s concession speech goes viral.
• June 28 2024 – Electoral Commission confirms distinct addresses for each candidate.