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World University Rankings : Why Daily Trust’s infographic is still misleading

Nurudeen Akewushola
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World University Rankings : Why Daily Trust’s infographic is still misleading

On July 2, FactCheckHub published a fact-check, rating an infographic by Daily Trust claiming to show the Top 20 Nigerian Institutions on World University Rankings as MISLEADING.

The newspaper subsequently published a rebuttal, arguing that FactCheckHub compared the infographic against the wrong dataset. According to Daily Trust, the universities listed in the graphic were drawn from the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings (also known as the Sustainability Impact Rankings), not the 2026 THE World University Rankings.

The newspaper, therefore, argued that FactCheckHub conflated two ranking systems published by Times Higher Education.

However, a closer review by FactCheckHub shows that the rebuttal does not address the central reason the infographic was rated as MISLEADING.

CLAIM

Daily Trust’s infographic accurately represents an official Times Higher Education ranking.

screenshot of the Daily Trust infographics

FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the newspaper’s rebuttal does not resolve the misleading nature of the infographic.

The issue identified in our earlier report was not whether Times Higher Education(THE) publishes multiple rankings. It does.

It publishes several independent rankings, including the World University Rankings, Impact Rankings, Young University Rankings, Asia University Rankings, and Subject Rankings, among others. Each measures different aspects of university performance using separate methodologies.

Rather, the issue lies in how Daily Trust labelled its infographic.

The graphic prominently states: “Top 20 Nigerian Institutions on “World University Rankings” instead of “Sustainability Impact Ratings”.

This distinction matters because “World University Rankings” is not merely a generic description of universities ranked globally. It is the official title of Times Higher Education’s flagship global ranking, which evaluates universities primarily on teaching, research quality, research environment, industry engagement and international outlook.

By contrast, the Sustainability Impact Ratings assess universities according to their contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), using an entirely different methodology.

Consequently, the two rankings are not interchangeable.

A reader seeing the headline “Top 20 Nigerian Institutions on World University Rankings” would reasonably understand it to mean the official THE World University Rankings, not the Sustainability Impact Rankings. A look at the comment section under the infographic confirms this.

Ranking University Ranking University
1 University of Ibadan 13 Ekiti State University
2 University of Lagos 14 Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
3 Bayero University Kano 15 Federal University of Technology, Akure
4 Covenant University 16 Federal University of Technology, Owerri
5 Landmark University 17 Federal University Oye-Ekiti
6 Ahmadu Bello University 18 Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
7 Federal University of Technology, Minna 19 Lagos State University
8 University of Ilorin 20 Nnamdi Azikiwe University
9 University of Jos 21 Obafemi Awolowo University
10 University of Nigeria, Nsukka 22 University of Benin
11 Babcock University 23 University of Calabar
12 Delta State University, Abraka 24 University of Port Harcourt

Source: Top 20 Nigerian Universities on 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) “World University Rankings”

That is precisely why the infographic becomes misleading.

Daily Trust’s rebuttal argues that institutions such as Afe Babalola University, Redeemer’s University, Al-Hikmah University, Godfrey Okoye University and Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria appear in the Sustainability Impact Rankings.

FactCheckHub does not dispute that.

However, the rebuttal does not explain why the infographic omitted any reference to the Sustainability Impact Rankings while simultaneously using the phrase “World University Rankings.”

Consequently, readers are left with the false impression that the listed institutions occupy those positions in the flagship THE World University Rankings.

To show that the infographic is misleading, one of the Universities, Alhikmah University, is already touting itself as among the top 20 Universities on the World Universities Rankings. Many users under the comment section were wondering how the top Universities were missing on the list. This is how misinformation spreads.

Had the infographic been titled: “Top Nigerian Universities in the 2026 THE Impact Rating” or “Top Nigerian Universities in THE Sustainability Rankings”, it would not have been misleading.

Instead, the title points readers to an entirely different THE ranking system.

The fact that the universities originate from another official THE ranking does not remove the misleading presentation created by the headline used in the infographic. The FactCheckHub rates claims as misleading if it is in connection with elements like photographs, infographics, videos, texts, data, quotes, etc. that are real but placed in a wrong context, accompanied by a false explanation or manipulated.

VERDICT

Daily Trust’s rebuttal does not invalidate FactCheckHub’s verdict. While the listed universities correspond to the 2026 Times Higher Sustainability Impact Rankings, the infographic labels them as “World University Rankings”. THE World University Rankings and THE Impact Rankings are distinct official rankings that measure different indicators; presenting one as the other creates a misleading impression for readers.

 

No, Justice Haruna Tsammani did not go blind after eye surgery in London

Zainab ABDULRASAQ
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No, Justice Haruna Tsammani did not go blind after eye surgery in London

A POST circulating on social media claims that Justice Simon Haruna Tsammani, the Court of Appeal judge who chaired the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal that affirmed President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election, has gone blind after undergoing an eye surgery in London.

The post alleges that the judge was admitted to a specialist hospital in London for what it described as a routine eye procedure but suffered complications during the operation, resulting in the complete loss of his eyesight.

The claim was shared by an X user, @Uno_009, with the caption:

“Breaking: Judge Tsamma Abubakar, who declared Tinubu winner in the 2023 presidential election, reportedly goes blind in a London hospital after undergoing eye surgery. According to reports, the judge was admitted to a specialist hospital in London for what was described as a routine eye procedure. However, doctors allegedly encountered unexpected complications during the operation, resulting in the complete loss of his eyesight.”

As of July 4, the post had generated over 350,000 views, 4600 likes, and over 1200 reposts.

It was also circulated on various social media platforms.

READ: No, Peter Obi is not the first presidential candidate to garner 6 million votes without sitting governor

CLAIM

Justice Simon Haruna Tsammani reportedly went blind after undergoing eye surgery in a London hospital.

screenshot of the viral post

FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.

Justice Simon Haruna Tsammani is a Justice of the Court of Appeal who chaired the five-member Presidential Election Petition Tribunal constituted to hear petitions challenging the outcome of Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election.

Following the February 25, 2023, presidential poll, the candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, challenged the declaration of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the election winner. On September 6, 2023, the tribunal, led by Tsammani, unanimously dismissed the petitions and affirmed Tinubu’s victory.

READ ALSO: Fact-checking Tinubu’s Democracy Day speech

A review of the viral post by The FactCheckHub, however, reveals inconsistencies.

The image used in the post is not that of Tsammani. The photograph actually belongs to Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, the Chief Justice of Ghana. Justice Tsammani is male, while the person depicted in the image is Ghana’s female Chief Justice, indicating that the post falsely identifies the individual it claims to be reporting about.

The top image is of Judge Haruna Tsammani and the one below it is of Chief Justice of Ghana, Gertrude Torkornoo

When contacted, Festus Akande, director of Information and Public Relations at the Supreme Court, dismissed the claim.

“He is still a sitting judge, so how can he be blind? The poster doesn’t know what he’s saying,” he added.

Furthermore, searches across credible media organisations found no report that Justice Tsammani underwent eye surgery in London or lost his eyesight. Given his high-profile role in the 2023 election tribunal, such a development would almost certainly have been reported by reputable news organisations if it occurred.

VERDICT

The claim that Justice Simon Haruna Tsammani went blind after undergoing eye surgery in London is FALSE. The viral post uses the photograph of Ghana’s Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, to falsely depict the Nigerian judge, and there is no credible evidence that he underwent such a procedure or lost his eyesight.

Daily Trust’s infographic on Nigeria’s top 20 universities is misleading

Nurudeen Akewushola
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Daily Trust’s infographic on Nigeria’s top 20 universities is misleading

A VIRAL infographic shared by Daily Trust claims to show the top 20 Nigerian universities following the release of the prestigious 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.

According to the infographic shared across social media, Afe Babalola University, Covenant University, and Redeemer’s University are Nigeria’s top three universities, ahead of the University of Lagos and University of Ibadan.

The graphic has been widely shared on social media, with many Universities like Al-Hikmah University, Kwara State celebrating their purported emergence as top 20 Universities in this year’s ranking.

CLAIM

The infographic shows the top 20 Nigerian universities in the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

screenshot of the viral infographics

FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.

The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings assess research-intensive universities across the world using internationally recognised performance indicators covering teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

It recently released its 2026 World University Rankings, in which 24 Nigerian universities secured places in the global and Sub-Saharan Africa rankings, the highest representation by any country in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Ranking University Ranking University
1 University of Ibadan 13 Ekiti State University
2 University of Lagos 14 Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
3 Bayero University Kano 15 Federal University of Technology, Akure
4 Covenant University 16 Federal University of Technology, Owerri
5 Landmark University 17 Federal University Oye-Ekiti
6 Ahmadu Bello University 18 Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
7 Federal University of Technology, Minna 19 Lagos State University
8 University of Ilorin 20 Nnamdi Azikiwe University
9 University of Jos 21 Obafemi Awolowo University
10 University of Nigeria, Nsukka 22 University of Benin
11 Babcock University 23 University of Calabar
12 Delta State University, Abraka 24 University of Port Harcourt

Source: 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings

However, checks by The FactCheckHub show that the infographic published by Daily Trust does not accurately reflect the official rankings.

According to the official 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the University of Ibadan is Nigeria’s highest-ranked university, followed by the University of Lagos and Bayero University, Kano. Covenant University ranks after these institutions, contrary to the infographic, which places Afe Babalola University, Covenant University, and Redeemer’s University as Nigeria’s top three universities.

The official rankings show that Nigeria’s 24 ranked institutions comprise 17 federal universities, three state universities and four private universities, reflecting the country’s growing presence in global higher education.

Contrary to what was in the infographics, universities like Al-Hikmah University, Godfrey Okoye University, Mariam Abacha University are not among the top 24 Universities on the list.

Reacting to the latest rankings, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, described the achievement as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s higher education sector, saying it demonstrates the impact of ongoing reforms aimed at improving teaching, research, innovation and global competitiveness.

VERDICT

The claim that infographic represents the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Ranking is MISLEADING. The official rankings place the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, and Bayero University, Kano as Nigeria’s top-ranked universities, not Afe Babalola University, Covenant University, and Redeemer’s University as claimed.

No, video does not show recent flood disaster in Lagos

Zainab ABDULRASAQ
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No, video does not show recent flood disaster in Lagos

A VIDEO circulating on social media claims to show a recent devastating flood sweeping away a resident in Lagos State.

The post, published by an X user, @Queen Bee, features footage of a heavy deluge with the caption,

“No be person way flood dey carry go like this for Tinubu Lagos? Just because he wants to Tiff money, Tinubu carry Nigeria money buy Wahala for Lagosians.”

As of June 30, 2026, the post has generated over 34,000 views, 300 likes and over 200 reposts.

READ: Old video of flood-damaged Gombe–Adamawa road recirculates as recent

CLAIM

A viral video shows a man being swept away by heavy floods in Lagos.

Screenshot of the viral post

FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.

Since Sunday, June 28, and continuing through Tuesday, June 30, heavy rainfall has swept across Lagos State, triggering widespread outrage on social media as residents criticise the Lagos State government over recurring flooding.

Pictures on social media show that major roads in Gbagada, Iyana-Ipaja, Agege, and other areas have been submerged, leaving residents stranded and homes underwater.

However, a digital footprint check reveals that the poster lifted the viral video from another online account that had explicitly stated the incident occurred in Ghana.

Also, a reverse image search done by The FactCheckHub traced the original footage to a verified Ghanaian blogging and media account on Instagram, tv3_ghana.

The account posted the same video with the caption: “heartbreaking scenes as residents watch helplessly while floodwaters sweep away a man inside his wooden kiosks, with no immediate rescue in sight.”

According to TVC news, at least 13 people have died after torrential rainfall triggered severe flooding across Ghana’s capital, Accra, with emergency responders warning that the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue.

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) said more than 470 people had been rescued from floodwaters that submerged homes, vehicles and businesses following heavy downpours on Sunday night.

The flooding also sparked a major fire at a rubber factory in Accra, while electricity supply was temporarily cut to several affected areas after floodwaters damaged power infrastructure.

Markets, businesses and schools in several parts of the capital remained closed as floodwaters gradually receded and residents began assessing the damage.

VERDICT

The claim that the viral video shows a recent flood disaster in Lagos is MISLEADING. Reverse image searches and source tracking prove the incident occurred in Accra, Ghana.

Viral video does not show Ogun deputy governor, commissioners prostrating for Dapo Abiodun

Nurudeen Akewushola
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Viral video does not show Ogun deputy governor, commissioners prostrating for Dapo Abiodun

A VIDEO circulating on social media claims to show the Deputy Governor of Ogun State and members of the State Executive Council prostrating before Governor Dapo Abiodun after allegedly falling out of his favour.

The eight-second clip was shared by a Facebook user, Olayinka Samuel with the caption:

“This is Ogun State. Whenever their governor isn’t happy with them, this is how the deputy governor and commissioners come and apologise. People that are supposed to hold him accountable.”

The post attracted several reactions, with many users criticising the governor and believing the individuals in the video were senior state officials.

The video has also surfaced on several other Facebook accounts as can be seen here and here.

CLAIM

The video shows the Ogun State Deputy Governor and commissioners prostrating before Governor Dapo Abiodun.

Screenshot of the viral post

FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.

A reverse image search conducted by The FactCheckHub traced the video to September 2023, long before it resurfaced with the current claim.

Checks show that the individuals in the footage were not the deputy governor or commissioners. Instead, they were local government chairpersons who visited Abiodun following a political crisis involving the then chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area, Wale Adedayo.

The controversy began after Adedayo accused Abiodun of diverting local government allocations and wrote petitions to former Governor Olusegun Osoba and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging that the state’s 20 local governments were operating without receiving their statutory allocations.

Following the allegations, other local government chairpersons visited the governor and publicly apologised over Adedayo’s remarks. During the meeting, they were seen prostrating before the governor – an incident captured in the viral video.

Subsequently, Adedayo was suspended and later removed from office by councillors in his local government, although he challenged the action in court.

In December 2025, the Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu Ode nullified his removal, describing the impeachment process as illegal, null and void. The court also awarded him N30 million in damages.

There is no evidence that the deputy governor of Ogun State or the commissioners were involved in the incident shown in the video.

VERDICT

The claim that the viral video shows the Ogun State deputy governor and commissioners prostrating before Governor Dapo Abiodun is MISLEADING.  It shows local government chairpersons apologising to the governor during a political dispute involving former Ijebu East Local Government chairman, Wale Adedayo, in September 2023.

No, security operatives did not arrest pastor for supplying logistics to bandits in Oyo

Zainab ABDULRASAQ
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No, security operatives did not arrest pastor for supplying logistics to bandits in Oyo

A POST circulating on Facebook claims that security forces in Oyo State have arrested a local pastor suspectedly acting as a key logistics supplier to the armed group responsible for the mass abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in the Orire Local Government Area.

The post, published by the Facebook page @Northern Nigeria Hub, claims that the cleric used his status to smuggle weapons, ammunition, drugs, and operational gear through security checkpoints undetected.

The post further notes that the report was read out during the “What’s Trending” on Arise TV’s Morning Show, anchored by Ojy Okpe.

As of June 25, 2026, the post has generated over 1,400 likes, 700 comments, and more than 600 shares.

READ: Old video from protests over Mohbad’s death misrepresented as demonstration over Oyo abductions

CLAIM

Oyo security forces arrest local pastor supplying logistics to bandits behind Orire school abductions.

Screenshot of the viral post

FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.

While the rumour gained traction after being read aloud on-air during Arise TV’s morning review of events trending on social media by presenter Ojy Okpe, findings showed that the video was stripped of its original context.

Screenshot from Arise TV live show, What’s Trending

On May 15, 2026, gunmen attacked schools along the Ahoro-Esiele/Yawota axis of Oriire Local Government Area in Oyo State and abducted pupils and teachers. The incident sparked widespread panic and renewed concerns over rising insecurity in parts of the state.

Amid current efforts to rescue the victims, social media platforms have been flooded with unverified claims, recycled footage, and misleading narratives, many of which falsely claim to show either the attackers or security responses linked to the incident.

The FactCheckHub subjected key frames from the video of the alleged arrest from the live show to a reverse image search, which shows that the incident was an arrest of a pastor, with a monarch and his cousins, who was allegedly apprehended for aiding and abetting kidnapping.

In August 2020, Blueprint and TVC news reported that the Imo State Police Command paraded a traditional ruler, Eze Andrew Okwuegbunwa, alongside seven others for their alleged involvement in a kidnapping syndicate in the South-East state.

While a cleric named Caleb Agu was indeed arrested during that 2020 operation as the suspected spiritual father of the gang, the case has nothing to do with the current security situation in Oyo.

The FactCheckHub also contacted the spokesperson for the Oyo State Police Command, Olushola Olayinka, to confirm if any such arrest had taken place within the state. He debunked the report as “false, unsubstantiated with evidence, and frivolous.”

READ ALSO: How false claims, recycled videos clouded Oyo school abduction

The police command confirmed that no local cleric connected to the mass school abductions in Orire had been taken into custody.

VERDICT

The claim that Oyo State security forces have arrested a local pastor for supplying logistics to the armed group behind the Orire school abductions is FALSE. The video shows an incident that happened in Imo state in 2020.

Video does not show Nigerian children eating human meat

Zainab ABDULRASAQ
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Video does not show Nigerian children eating human meat

A VIDEO circulating on social media claims to show children in Nigeria eating human meat due to extreme hunger and economic hardship. The accompanying caption suggests that things have degenerated to the point of cannibalism in the country.

The video, posted on June 21, features young children gathered around a pot, eating meat that visually resembles a limb.

An X user, @somtolism7 shared the video with the caption:

“Kids now eat human meat in Nigeria because of hunger? A new Nigeria is not possible, end Nigeria to save lives ”

As of June 22, 2026, the post had generated over 380,000 views, 350 reposts and more than 1300 likes.

READ: Video does not show MC confronting Seyi Tinubu over Nigeria’s security situation

CLAIM

Video shows hungry children in Nigeria resorting to eating human meat.

Screenshot of the viral post.

FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.

A reverse image search done by The FactCheckHub revealed that the video does not originate from Nigeria, nor does it depict cannibalism. The video was traced back to a viral TikTok handle, @chabaprime, an account well-known for documenting the hunting, preparation, and consumption of wild animals such as baboons, antelopes, and monkeys.

Furthermore, an audio analysis done by The FactCheckHub confirmed that the language spoken by the individuals in the video is completely foreign and does not match any indigenous Nigerian language.

A keyword search traces the video’s origin to the Hadzabe tribe, an indigenous ethnic group of hunter gatherers living around Lake Eyasi in Northern Tanzania.

The Hadzabe are culturally known for their traditional wildlife hunting and culinary practices, and they regularly document their lifestyle in this exact manner. The meat seen in the video is actually wild bushmeat (such as a baboon or monkey), which forms a staple part of their ancient cultural diet.

The FactCheckHub also closely observed the visual evidence in the video. The meat does bear physical similarities to a human leg at first glance, and critical look at the anatomy refutes this claim. The tip of the meat, which forms the foot, is far too hairy to belong to a human, and the overall skeletal structure of the foot is distinctly non-human.

A similar report by The FactCheckHub debunked a viral video that falsely claimed to show a young Fulani boy eating human flesh. In that instance, the findings revealed that the clip actually featured a child from the Hadzabe tribe consuming bushmeat.

VERDICT

The claim that the video captures Nigerian children eating human meat due to extreme hunger and economic hardship is MISLEADING. The video is from Tanzania.

ICIR/FactCheckHub wins Global Fact-checking Award

Mustapha Usman
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ICIR/FactCheckHub wins Global Fact-checking Award

THE International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) and FactCheckHub have won the Gold Standard Award at the 2026 Global Fact-Checking Awards for their investigation on how artificial intelligence was weaponised to promote fraudulent investment schemes in Nigeria.

The award was announced on Friday, June 19, at GlobalFact 2026, the annual conference of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), held in Vilnius, Lithuania.

The winning investigation, authored by Nurudeen Akewushola, a senior Investigative journalist and fact-checker with The ICIR was produced by ICIR in collaboration with FactCheckHub, an IFCN signatory, with support from the Pulitzer Center.

The report titled “AI-assisted Ponzi schemes: How Meta, YouTube’s regulatory lapses enable scammers smile to banks,” examined how fraudsters exploited the growing public fascination with artificial intelligence to repackage traditional Ponzi schemes as sophisticated “AI-powered” investment platforms.

Through undercover reporting, open-source intelligence (OSINT), and digital forensic techniques, the investigation exposed how operators used deepfake videos, cloned voices, fabricated identities, and fake endorsements by public figures to lure unsuspecting victims.

The investigation also revealed how major technology platforms failed to effectively enforce their own policies against deceptive financial advertising, allowing fraudulent promotions to reach thousands of users.

In announcing the finalists earlier this month, the IFCN described the investigation as reporting that “exposed AI-assisted Ponzi schemes that caused direct financial harm to vulnerable audiences, while also revealing enforcement failures by Meta and YouTube.”

The reporter traced the operations of several purported AI-powered investment platforms, including CBEX, Quantum AI, SquaredOptions, and Modmount Limited.

The investigation found that many of the schemes were unlicensed and relied on synthetic media and deceptive marketing tactics rather than genuine artificial intelligence systems.

Following publication of the report, Meta removed several fraudulent pages, accounts, and advertisements identified during the investigation.

The Gold Standard Award is regarded as the highest honour presented by the IFCN, recognising fact-checking journalism that demonstrates exceptional standards of verification, research, transparency, fairness, and public service.

The ICIR and FactCheckHub emerged ahead of finalists from Jordan and Norway in a category judged by an international panel of experts from journalism, academia, and the fact-checking community.

The award marks a significant international recognition for Nigerian journalism and highlights the growing role of investigative reporting, OSINT, and digital forensic techniques in exposing emerging forms of technology-enabled fraud.

Speaking on the recognition, the organisations described the award as a testament to the importance of rigorous, evidence-based journalism in holding powerful actors accountable and protecting the public from harm in an increasingly complex digital information environment.

Reacting to the development, Akewushola, who also is the acting team lead of the FactCheckHub said: “I am deeply honoured that this investigation has received the Gold Standard Award at the 2026 Global Fact-Checking Awards.

“This recognition is particularly meaningful because it celebrates rigorous verification, transparency, and public-interest journalism at a time when artificial intelligence is increasingly being weaponised to deceive vulnerable people.”

He stressed that the award is a testament to the importance of investigative reporting and factchecking in exposing emerging threats in the digital information ecosystem.

“I am grateful to the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) and FactCheckHub for providing the editorial support, guidance, and collaborative environment that made this investigation possible.

”I also sincerely thank the Pulitzer Center for supporting this investigation. Their support enabled the time, resources, and depth of reporting required to uncover a complex network of AI-driven scams operating across multiple platforms and jurisdictions,” he said.

He added that the achievement reflected the commitment of both organisations to producing impactful journalism that holds powerful actors accountable and protects the public from harm.

 

LIVE-CHECK: Ekiti 2026 governorship election

Nurudeen Akewushola
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LIVE-CHECK: Ekiti 2026 governorship election

By Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition.

The Ekiti State 2026 Governorship Election kicks off Saturday morning as voters cast their ballots to elect the next governor for the Southwestern Nigerian state.

Our team of journalists, researchers, fact-checkers, social media monitors, editors, and OSINT experts are on ground at the Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition’s (NFC) Election Situation Rooms to debunk election-related misinformation and disinformation content targeted at causing voter apathy, inciting violence or influencing the outcome of the gubernatorial poll.

Do you have an election-related claim you want us to fact-check?

Share with the NFC via WhatsApp here.

 

This page is constantly being updated with verified checks.

CLAIM 1 

An X user shared a video claiming unrest in Isan-Ekiti after a man was shot dead ahead of the election.

FINDINGS:

Abayomi Shogunle, Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, confirmed there was unrest on the eve of the election. He claimed it was the result of a football match in the community, not election-related. Observers deployed by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) confirmed that a bus which conveyed police officers from Abuja to Ekiti, two tippers, and the police station were burnt down. While there was unrest, Police and other sources said that it was unrelated to the election.

VERDICT:  Partly CORRECT

SOURCE: Ekiti State Police and CJID Election Observers.

DATE: June 20, 2026.

FACT CHECK AUTHOR: Sunday Awosoro

EDITORS: Kemi Busari  and Simbiat Bakare

CLAIM 2

CLAIM: A Facebook user shares a picture as evidence of massive voter turnout in Ado-Ekiti.

FINDINGS

Manual examination of the image reveals characteristics consistent with AI-generated images. We analysed the image using multiple AI detection tools, such as AI or Not and Deep AI. The results show that the images were 99% and 97% AI-generated, respectively. Also, we used Google Reverse Image Search on the image, but we found no source for it.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCES: AI or Not and DeepAI

DATE: June 20, 2026.

FACT CHECK AUTHOR: Lademi Aborisade

EDITORS: Opeyemi Kehinde, Kemi Busari and Simbiat Bakare

CLAIM 3

CLAIM: An X user claimed  (archived here) that the All Progressive Congress (APC) is not involved in financial inducement or vote buying in the Ekiti State 2026 gubernatorial election.

​FINDINGS

The claim is contradicted by field reports and media coverage from the election. A video published by Sahara Reporters captured a resident confirming that votes were indeed being sold at a polling unit. Additionally, Punch Newspaper reported that allegations of vote buying involving APC supporters led to a violent clash with supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), resulting in an injury. A resident contacted by the Nigerian Fact-checkers Coalition also confirmed witnessing vote-buying activities.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

​SOURCES: Sahara Reporters and Punch Newspaper.

​DATE: June 20, 2026.

FACT CHECK  AUTHOR: Zainab Abdulrasaq

EDITORS: Opeyemi Kehinde and Simbiat Bakare

CLAIM 4

CLAIM: An X user, @DaddyTwinzz, posted photos of a branded sachet of alcohol, claiming it is being used to buy votes in the ongoing Ekiti state election.

FINDINGS: Closer inspection of the photo and a Google Reverse Image Search revealed that the branded sachet gin was used as a campaign material by Hon. Adewale Olatunji during the 2025 Ibadan North By-Elections.

There is no link between the sachet alcohol and the ongoing Ekiti State elections.

VERDICT: Misleading

Sources: Google Reverse Image Search, InsideOyo

DATE: June 20, 2026

FACT CHECK AUTHOR: Rebecca Ogungbure

EDITORS: Kemi Busari and Simbiat Bakare

Ekiti Decides 2026: 6 ways to fact-check election rumours spread on WhatsApp

Editorial
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Ekiti Decides 2026: 6 ways to fact-check election rumours spread on WhatsApp

EKITI State goes to the polls on June 20 to elect a new governor, and as with every Nigerian election, WhatsApp will be full of claims about the candidates, the process, and the result.

As Ekiti voters prepare for the election, here is how to check the claims, photos, voice notes, and videos that will likely circulate on WhatsApp before, during, and after voting.

  1. Look out for the ‘Forwarded’ tag

Most false claims on WhatsApp circulate as forwarded messages. You will see a small arrow icon and the word “Forwarded” above such messages. This does not automatically mean the content is false, since real news is forwarded too, but it is a sign to be cautious, since you cannot tell who wrote it or where it originated.

  1. Check the official sources

If a message claims that a candidate has withdrawn from the race, that a polling unit has been relocated, or that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made an announcement, check INEC’s official website and verified social media handles, as well as the pages of the political parties and the named candidates. INEC regularly publishes updates on its activities, and a genuine development of that scale would appear there, not only in a forwarded WhatsApp message.

  1. Search for the claim online

Copy the key details in the message, such as names, locations, or figures, and search them on Google. If something newsworthy actually happened in Ado Ekiti, Ikere, or any other local government area in the state, credible Nigerian newsrooms would likely have reported it. If nothing comes up except the same message being shared on other platforms, treat the claim with suspicion.

  1. Verify photos and videos

Photos and videos of violence, ballot snatching, or vote buying resurface during every election cycle, often recycled from previous elections or from entirely different states and countries. Use Google Reverse Image Search to check where a photo first appeared online. For videos, tools like InVID can help confirm whether footage is old or has been used elsewhere before.

  1. Be wary of messages designed to provoke fear or anger

Messages that push you to act immediately, such as warning you to avoid a polling unit or to spread a claim before it is “taken down,” are often designed to spread quickly rather than to inform. Genuine updates from election authorities and credible media houses are usually calm and specific, with clear sources, not urgent and alarming.

  1. Reach out to fact-checking organisations

If you come across a message you are unsure about, send it to a fact-checking organisation such as The Continental, FactCheckHub, Africa Check, Alkalnci or DUBAWA before sharing it further. These organisations take public submissions and have previously verified claims during Nigerian elections. Once a fact check is published, share it back into the group where you first saw the false claim, so others who saw it also see the correction.

By Blessing Amala Muonwe, Fact-checker

Editor: Bamas Victoria & Simbiat Bakare

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