Celebrity Traitors star Niko Omilana's political career and pranks explained

A fresh batch of well-known personalities has joined Claudia Winkleman for the new series of The Celebrity Traitors.

The iconic game show made its eagerly awaited comeback on 8 October, with 19 celebrities ready to step into the roles of Faithfuls and Traitors.

Echoing the original format, this star-studded spin-off boasts a massive prize pot of up to £100,000. However, instead of keeping the money, the victorious celebrity will donate the winnings to a charity of their choosing.

Among this year's contestants is YouTuber Niko Omilana, who is no stranger to games of deception. The 27-year-old influencer is renowned for his elaborate practical jokes, which include masquerading as a journalist to dupe a Ku Klux Klan member.

But Niko isn't just a social media sensation, he is also the founder of an independent political movement known as The Niko Defence League (NDL), reports the Daily Record.

In 2018, Niko infiltrated an English Defence League (EDL) march for a video titled 'Undercover as a Racist for 24 Hours'. He posed as an EDL supporter and "exposed" its members' contentious beliefs.

The video rapidly went viral and propelled Niko to mainstream fame. However, the prank naturally drew backlash from EDL supporters, which prompted Niko to establish his own 'defence league'.

He subsequently ran for the London Mayoral Election in 2021 as an independent candidate, while asserting he was part of the NDL.

Launching his campaign on Instagram, the content creator encouraged his followers to back him.

"There is no greater leader in this country than me so please my friends, vote Niko for mayor of London on May 6th... or your breath stinks," he declared in the video. "Make sure you are registered to vote as well, you don't want to miss out on this one."

The YouTuber's cheeky manifesto featured telling Boris Johnson to "shush". Niko secured 2% of the vote share.

In 2024, Niko contested the General Election and challenged former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in his constituency of Richmond and Northallerton.

For his national campaign, the reality star's manifesto presented a blend of lighthearted and genuine goals. This encompassed opening Buckingham Palace for public rental as an Airbnb, alongside repairing potholes.

Labour proceeded to secure a sweeping victory but Niko executed another publicity stunt.

During Sunak's defeat speech, the social media personality brandished a placard displaying the letter 'L' for loser.

Whilst his political journey is peppered with humorous antics, Niko maintains that young people possess the ability to transform the political landscape.

Speaking to ITV before the 2024 election, he remarked: "I believe that if young people do go out to vote and we all come together as one massive cohesion, then I believe that we can actually change this country together."

The Celebrity Traitors airs Wednesday and Thursday nights from 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer