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Claim that Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala has been appointed WTO Director-General is FALSE

Opeyemi Kehinde
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Claim that Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala has been appointed WTO Director-General is FALSE

Multiple viral posts claiming that Nigeria’s nominee for the position of the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been appointed by the organisation surfaced online Thursday evening of October 8, 2020.

The posts, which came in different variations, were published on Facebook, Twitter and some online blogs including Observers Times, Sahel Standard, MyMediaAfrica, 9NewsNG and Atlantic Post  among others and they have gone viral.

Some of it read: “Breaking: Okonjo-Iweala appointed 1st female leader of WTO.”

“BREAKING: Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has just been appointed as the new—and first female—Director General of the World Trade Organization. Congratulations!”

“Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been appointed the new DG of the World Trade Organization (WTO). She is the first African & the first woman to head the WTO. Mama is Excellence!! She is Merit!!”

The false report on Sahel Standard platform.

THE CLAIM:

That Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been appointed as the Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

THE FINDINGS:

Checks by the FactCheckHub revealed that the claim is false.

Information obtained from the official Twitter handle of the World Trade Organisation (@WTO) indicated that consultation is still ongoing to appoint the organisation’s director-general, adding that consultations resume on October 19th, contrary to the viral posts.

“These are the candidates moving on for members’ further consideration. The result creates an historic precedent for the WTO: the 7th Director-General will become the first woman to lead the Organization. Consultations resume on 19 Oct #WTODG,” the tweet reads.

The fase claim that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been appointed as the Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as shared on Twitter.

Similarly, a news release by the WTO on Thursday, October 8, indicated that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria and Yoo Myung-hee of the Republic of Korea have both made it to the final round of the selection process.

“The result creates an historic precedent for the WTO in that it assures that the 7th Director-General will become the first woman to lead the organization. These two candidates were chosen from a field of five(*) that had advanced to the second round of consultations.

“Our aim continues to be to encourage and facilitate the building of consensus among members, and to assist in moving from this final slate of two candidates to a decision on appointment.

“As this is the final round of the consultation process, it should bring us to the point where we can make a recommendation to the General Council concerning that decision,”  the General Council Chair of WTO, Amb. David Walker said in the press statement.

The General Council is the highest decision-making body of the WTO apart from the Ministerial Conference which meets every two years, it added.

The false claim that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been appointed as the Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as posted  on  My Media and Observer Times platform.

Further checks by the FactCheckHub also confirmed that Okonjo-Iweala made it to the final round of the selection process, according to a brief statement on her official Facebook and Twitter pages, though she is yet to be appointed.

“Happy to be in the final round of the #WTO DG campaign! Thanks, WTO members for your continued support of my candidacy. Thanks be to God.

“I could not have made it without the prayers and support of all Nigerians and friends around the world. Thank you Nigerians, Thank you, President Buhari and all my friends. Aluta continua!” she wrote.

It will be recalled that the FactCheckHub had earlier in July 2020 did a similar fact-check debunking claim that Kenya’s Amina Mohammed has beaten Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala for the WTO DG’s position.

The false claim that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been appointed as the Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as posted on Atlantic Post platform.

THE VERDICT:

From all evidence available, the claim that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been appointed as the Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is FALSE.

Update:

[23/06/21] In February 2021, Okonjo-Iweala was confirmed  as the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

October 1: Fact-Checking Buhari’s claim on pump price in oil-producing countries

Olugbenga ADANIKIN
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October 1: Fact-Checking Buhari’s claim on pump price in oil-producing countries

THE PRESIDENT of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari during his October 1, speech to mark the country’s 60th Independence celebration said it was irrational for oil to be cheaper in Nigeria than in Saudi Arabia.

Nigeria got her independence on October 1, 1960.

Prior to this assertion, Buhari reeled out oil pump prices in other oil-producing countries to buttress his position on the adjustment of petroleum prices.

In his words, Buhari said, “Petroleum prices in Nigeria are to be adjusted. We sell now at N161 per litre. A comparison with our neighbours will illustrate the point;

  1. Chad which is an oil-producing country charges N362 per litre
  2. Niger, also an oil-producing country sells 1 litre at N346.
  3. In Ghana, another oil-producing country, the petroleum pump price is N326 per litre.

The President also added that, “Egypt charges N211 per litre, Saudi Arabia charges N168 per litre. It makes no sense for oil to be cheaper in Nigeria than in Saudi Arabia.”

 

THE CLAIM:

That the petroleum pump price for other oil producing countries are; Chad – N362, Niger – N346, Ghana – N326, Egypt – N211,  and Saudi Arabia – N168.

 

THE FINDINGS:

Nigeria has witnessed variation of petroleum prices particularly in the last two quarters of 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The country has further deregulated the downstream sector and pull out from further subsidising fuel price, thus, allowing market forces to determine the fuel price.

The FactCheckHub checked the president’s claim against data on globalpetroleumprices.com. The website tracks and do a weekly update of fuel prices from 150 countries including Australia, Canada, Russia and over 250 cities globally.

It also monitors electricity prices in about 100 countries with major clients across multinationals and international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), some of which includes Ericsson, Goldman Sachs, Plan international, Barclays among others.

Petrol prices data per litre published as of  September, 28, 2020 revealed that fuel per litre is sold at N354.93 in Chad as against N362 stated by the President.

The fuel price list of over 160 countries showed fuel price for Ghana to be N324.93 compared with N326 stated by Buhari. While fuel price in Egypt as captured by the website is N207.62, and that of Saudi Arabia is N167.29.

Meanwhile, the President during his speech had said the fuel price in Egypt and Saudi Arabia are N211 and N168 respectively.

The fuel price in Nigeria is N161 but the organisation published the price as N151.56.  Though, Niger Republic was missing in the list of countries, the data source states that differences in prices across the countries are as a result of the tax variation and petroleum subsidies provided by respective nations.

However, the FactCheckHub findings revealed that the N151.56 align with the ex-depot price as announced by the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for September.

This implies that the above prices are most likely the ex-depot prices based on the figure presented for Nigeria on the website.

The ex-depot price is the price at which the product is sold to marketers at the depots.

“All countries have access to the same petroleum prices of international markets but then decide to impose different taxes. As a result, the retail price of gasoline is different,” the website reads.

 

THE VERDICT:

Based on the available data, the claim by President Buhari on pump prices during his October 1 independence day speech  is MOSTLY TRUE. This is because the prices contained in his speech are relatively close to those stated by the global petroleum prices.

 

FALSE claim circulates online that Nigerian government is giving N25,000 relief funds

Niyi Oyedeji
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FALSE claim circulates online that Nigerian government is giving N25,000 relief funds

A POST has been shared repeatedly on social media claiming that the Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria is giving out free N25,000 Relief Funds.

The post retrieved from a WhatsApp group on September 25 directed people to claim their own via a link.

The post reads: “Government has finally approved and have started giving out free N25,000 Relief Funds to each citizen

Below is how to claim and get yours credit Instantly as I have just did now

Note : You can only claim and get credited once and it’s also limited so get your now Instantly.”

The circulated claim has a website address that have “COVID-19” in it and also the site generated thumbnail reads “Government lockdown funds”.

 

THE CLAIM:

That Federal Government of Nigeria is giving out free N25,000 relief funds.

The claim in circulation.

THE FINDINGS:

Since the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, the Federal Government (FG) has rolled out several initiatives to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 on the citizens.

For instance, the FG on May 14, 2020 through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHDS) launched the modified home grown school feeding programme to provide for beneficiaries of school feeding programme while they stay at home during the lock down.

Similarly, the Nigeria Government on April 1 commenced the disbursement of N20,000 Conditional Cash Transfer to poor homes in the country. This initiative was also ssupervised by the ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development.

A more recent intervention is the N75 billion survival fund launched by the FG through the ministry of state for industry, trade and investment for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Checks by The FactCheckHub revealed that the purported N25,000 Relief Funds is  not connected with any of  initiatives by the Federal Government.

Similarly, The FactCheckHub also reached out to the FMHDS – the ministry that supervises such relief initiatives for the government – to confirm the veracity of the claim.

Halima Oyelade, a Special Assistant on Media to the FMHDS minister noted that the claim in circulation is false and that the federal government is not giving out free N25,000 Relief Funds.

”This is not true,” she replied The FactCheckHub‘s enquiry via a text message.

In addition, clicking on the site takes you to a page that asks you to fill a survey form, after which it asks you to share the page numerous times in a similar fashion that market research surveys work.

 

THE VERDICT:

The claim that Federal Government of Nigeria is giving out free N25,000 relief funds is FALSE.

 

 

Media reports that Ize-Iyamu begged Obaseki to return to APC are MISLEADING

Niyi Oyedeji
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Media reports that Ize-Iyamu begged Obaseki to return to APC are MISLEADING

LINDA Ikeji’s blog on Thursday, September 24, 2020 reported that Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the September 19, 2020,  Edo State gubernatorial election has begged Godwin Obaseki to return to the APC.

Obaseki, who is the incumbent governor of the state, won the election for a second term. He was initially in the APC but moved to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) prior to the election.

Edo is a state in southern Nigeria.

Linda Ikeji’s blog, in the news published on their website and archived here, stated that Ize-Iyamu, the APC candidate in the Edo governorship election, has called on Governor Godwin Obaseki to return to APC.

“Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the APC governorship candidate in the Saturday, September 19 governorship election in Edo state, has called on Governor Godwin Obaseki to return to APC.

“Recall that in June 2020, Obaseki defected from the APC to the PDP following his running battle with his predecessor and former National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomole. The battle between both men led to Obaseki being disqualified from the APC governorship primaries. Obaseki immediately defected to PDP where he was able to secure the party’s governorship ticket and won the election.

“In a television broadcast on Wednesday night September 23, Ize-Iyamu appealed to Obaseki to return to the APC,” the news read in part.

The news was also published by some mainstream media outlets in Nigeria, including The Punch, ThisDay and Daily Post.

Although, the Punch and Thisday newspapers have deleted the news reports from their website, Dailypost, Lailasnews and Allnewsng still have the reports on their websites as at 1.30pm on Thursday, September, 24, 2020.

Having discovered that the report is “untrue”, The Punch has apologised to Ize-Iyamu “for the embarrassment this story might have caused him.”

The apology from the Punch newspaper.

 

THE CLAIM:

That after the Edo governorship election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu  begged Godwin Obaseki, his opponent to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

THE FINDINGS:

Findings by the FactCheckHub revealed that Linda Ikeji’s blog and other news websites relied on an old video in writing the report.

Earlier, Ize-Iyamu was seen in a video posted here appealing to Godwin Obaseki, his opponent to return to the APC although the video was released three months ago, before the election took place.

Similarly, the Director of Communication and Media of the Osagie Ize-Iyamu Campaign Organisation, John Mayaki, in a reaction to the media report, stated that the news is not true. He added that the video in circulation was released three months ago.

He also stated that Ize-Iyamu has not addressed the press after the election.

The misleading report on Linda Ikeji’s blog.

 

THE VERDICT:

The claim that Osagie Ize-Iyamu has begged Godwin Obaseki, his opponent to return to the APC is MISLEADING. Linda Ikeji blog and other news websites relied on an old video in writing their reports.

Did WAEC conduct Senior School Certificate Examination in Chibok?

Olugbenga ADANIKIN
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Did WAEC conduct Senior School Certificate Examination in Chibok?

ON September 14, Kelvin Odanz @MrOdanz shared a tweet claiming that the West African Examination Council (WAEC) senior school certificate examination held in Chibok, one of the epicentres of Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State, Nigeria.

He applauded the fete commending the Nigerian Army for its interventions in the area.

“…WAEC exams were held in Chibok town where those 200+ girls were abducted by Boko Haram in 2014. This is historic, all thanks to the safety net provided by the Nigerian army,” he tweeted to his 63,000 followers.

The tweet, which had 933 likes, has been retweeted over 300 times as at 2:00pm on Wednesday, September 23, 2020.

THE CLAIM

That the West African Examination Council (WAEC) held its senior school certificate examination in Chibok town.

 

THE FINDINGS:

Chibok town became prominent following the abduction of secondary school girls by the Boko Haram insurgents in 2014.  276 girls were kidnapped from their dormitory in the Government Secondary School located in North-East Nigeria.

While some of the girls managed to escape, 100 were freed in an exchange deal during a negotiation arranged by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The girls’ abduction sparked social media movement with the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls.

The incident led to disruption of educational activities  in the area. But six years after the incident, findings by the FactCheckHub revealed the West African examination body resolved to return to the state to resume the secondary school examination.

Two hundred and thirty eight (238) students in Chibok participated in this year’s examination, Demianus Ojijeogu, WAEC Spokesperson told the FactCheckHub during a verification process.

“Yes, 238 candidates wrote the examination. There was no problem; everything went smoothly,” Ojijeogu said.

Media organisations had earlier reported the examination. Prior to the 2020 WAEC examination, reports say students would often travel to Jos, Maiduguri and other major cities in Nigeria’s northern states to write the examination.

 

THE VERDICT:

The claim that the West African Examination Council (WAEC) held its senior school certificate examination in Chibok town is TRUE.

Viral WhatsApp message on planned demolition of 37 estates in Abuja is MISLEADING

Olugbenga ADANIKIN
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Viral WhatsApp message on planned demolition of 37 estates in Abuja is MISLEADING

A viral message retrieved from a WhatsApp group on Thursday, September 17, 2020 says the Department of Development Control of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is set to demolish a list of 37 estates in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

The post attributed the Development Control Department of the  AMMC as the source of the information.

It was also reported by the Nigerian Lawyer, an online publication.

Some of the estates with their locations allegedly marked for demolition include; Ejima Group Estate, Minnanuel Estate, Redwood/Bidmusdruhill, Joafra, Efficacy Home all in Kyami.

Stone Mountain Homes, Lento Estate, RCCG Estate (Site A,B,C & D), and Rainbow Estate (Pykassa), among others were also listed.

 

THE CLAIM:
That the Development Control department of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), an agency of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), in 2020 marked 37 Estates for demolition.
A screenshot of the claim shared on WhatsApp.
THE FINDINGS:

Findings show that the news of demolishing the 37 estates was earlier published in October 2012. The Leadership newspaper in a report culled by the AllAfrica news platform  announced the plan to demolish structures considered to be illegal.

According to the old report, the announcement came shortly after 500 buildings were pulled down by the FCTA for flouting the Abuja Master Plan.

 

The Leadership newspaper report in 2012 culled from AllAfrica.com

TheNigerianLawyer.com, in a report it published on September 16, 2020, stated that “The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) has disclosed that it is set to demolish estates built along the Abuja airport road where Federal Government plans to construct a centenary village, according to Bridge News reports on 3rd day of March, 2020.”

The report as seen on Thenigerianlawyer.com republished in 2020.
The Bridge news it referenced with a link-back reads;  “The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), on Wednesday said there was no going back on the proposed demolition of 32 illegal estates along the Abuja Airport Road. Speaking recently, Mr Atebeji Nathaniel, the Assistant Director, Monitoring and Enforcement Department of the council told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.”

An online search shows that this report which was published almost verbatim and passed as recent had been reported in 2013 by the Vanguard newspaper.

 

The report published in 2013 by the Vanguard newspaper.
The Bridge news republished a 2013 news report and passed it as an event that happened in 2020 and www.thenigerianlawyer.com republished the report and also passed it as a recent event.
The 2013 report republished almost verbatim by the Bridge news as a 2020 report

The FactCheckHub reached out to Ikharo Attah, the Chairman of the FCT Ministerial Task Force Team  who debunked the claim. He described the viral WhatsApp message as fake news.

“Fake News. First circulated in 2013,” he responded in a message while verifying the claim.

Mukhtar Galadima, the FCTA Director of Development Control  – the department attributed as the source of the claim in circulation also stated that it was an old event. He told the FactCheckHub that the proposed plan was announced in 2013.

“It is a fake news. This is something that happened in 2013. It is a false information.”

However, the FCTA, in a  July 2020 report by the Premium Times (an Online newspaper), has suspended the processing and issuance of building plan approvals for Lugbe and all on-going developments in the district.

This was attributed to a statement  from the The Director, Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima who explained that the suspension had become necessary due to the ongoing harmonisation of developments in the district with the Abuja Master Plan.

Galadima, in the report, said “This is to inform the general public that the Department of Development Control, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, is not granting building plan approval for developments in Lugbe due to the ongoing harmonisation exercise of the district, in line with the Abuja Master Plan.

“Consequently, any developer found to be developing any property within Lugbe district without the requisite building approvals from the department is doing so at his or her own risk.

“The department will enforce appropriate sanctions, in accordance with the provisions of the law, including demolition of such illegal properties.”

 

THE VERDICT: 
The claim that the Development Control department of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) in 2020 marked 37 Estates for demolition is MISLEADING. Although the FCTA announced plans to demolish estates, this was done in 2013 and not 2020 as the WhatsApp claim in circulation alluded.

Edo Election: Report that Ize-Iyamu congratulated PDP, his opponent’s party is FALSE

Niyi Oyedeji
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Edo Election: Report that Ize-Iyamu congratulated PDP, his opponent’s party is FALSE

THE Punch newspaper on Sunday, September 20, 2020, reported that Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the just-concluded Edo State gubernatorial election has conceded defeat and congratulated the Peoples Democratic Party  (PDP), his major opponent’s party for winning the election.

Edo, a state in southern Nigeria held it governorship election on Saturday, September 19, 2020.

The Punch Newspaper in the now-deleted news published on their website and archived here stated that Osagie Ize-Iyamu has admitted that he lost the election and has congratulated  his main opponent’s political party.

 

“The candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2020 Edo State Governorship Election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has admitted that he lost the election.

“Ize-Iyamu agreed that the Peoples Democratic Party won the election and he has since congratulated the opposition party.

“Reacting via his Twitter handle, Ize-Iyamu wrote, “Edo people has decided, we thank you all! Congratulations to the opposition party! They have won! Election no be war. It’s time to work more harder for the next 4 years. Congratulations,” the news read in part.

The news was also shared on the verified Twitter and Facebook page of the Punch newspaper.

The Punch newspaper, which is known as one of the leading newspapers in Nigeria, has over 3.5 million followers on Twitter and over 1.5 million likes on Facebook.

The news shared on its Facebook page  had over 452 comments, 553 shares and 1700 likes as at 4:16pm September 20, 2020 before it was deleted.

 

THE CLAIM:

That Osagie Ize-Iyamu has accepted defeat for the 2020 Edo governorship election and has congratulated his opponent’s party, the PDP.

Screenshots of the archived news report by the Punch newspaper

THE FINDINGS:

The FactCheckHub findings revealed that the Punch newspaper, in writing its report, relied on a tweet from a fake Twitter account (@ize_osagie), masquerading as belonging to Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the APC candidate in the Edo election.

The media house wrote the news based on what was obtained from the parody account with the username @ize_osagie.

The real Twitter account belonging to Ize-Iyamu is: @PastorIzeIyamu and the last tweet on the account as at when the Punch newspaper did its report was tweeted 24-hours ago when Ize-Iyamu was casting his vote.

This account: @PastorIzeIyamu is the only Twitter account linked to the official campaign website of Ize-Iyamu.

The fake account also have a website linked to it. However, after clicking the link, it gives an error information that the website does not exist.

Screenshot of the error message displayed on the website linked to the fake Twitter account.

Although, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Sunday afternoon (September 20,2020) declared Godwin Obaseki of the PDP as the winner of the Edo State gubernatorial election but Pastor Ize-Iyamu was yet to react to the development as at the time the Punch newspaper published the report, thus making the claim FALSE.

LEFT IMAGE: Screenshot of the fake account | RIGHT IMAGE: Screenshot of the authentic account.

Ize-Iyamu eventually reacted to the INEC’s announcement, saying he is studying the results and would decide on his next line of action.

He tweeted: “I assure you all that I am studying the results along with other party members and will announce my next move soon.”

THE VERDICT:

The claim that Osagie Ize-Iyamu has accepted defeat for the 2020 Edo governorship election and has congratulated his opponent’s party, the PDP is FALSE. The Punch newspaper, in writing its report, relied on a tweet from a fake Twitter account (@ize_osagie), masquerading as belonging to Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the APC candidate in the election.

Edo Election: FALSE image circulates online that Oshiomhole voted for PDP

Niyi Oyedeji
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Edo Election: FALSE image circulates online that Oshiomhole voted for PDP

A viral post on social media claimed that a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, voted for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Edo gubernatorial election held on September 19, 2020.

The post with a picture showing Oshiomhole holding the ballot paper thumb printed for the PDP has been shared severally on Twitter and WhatsApp groups.

PDP Vanguard shared the picture on Twitter with the caption:  “LOL! Even Oshiomhole is voting for @GovernorObaseki!”

The same picture has been posted by several other Twitter accounts and carried by several blogs and forums.

Oshiomhole voting for the PDP allegedly at the election would mean he voted for Godwin Obaseki, the incumbent governor of the state, who is running for a second term.

The duo have been in the news for being at loggerhead.

 

THE CLAIM:

That an image shows a former APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole voting for the PDP in the 2020 Edo Governorship election.

The manipulated image being circulated online.

 

THE FINDINGS:

The FactCheckHub findings revealed that the picture depicting Oshiomhole voting PDP has been manipulated.

A Google Reverse Image search shows the same image posted by Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism, @ptcij.  The image was showing the back of the ballot paper unlike the front as shown in the viral image. Thus, the party he voted for cannot be seen.

The original picture of Adams Oshiomhole dropping his ballot in the box.

In addition, a video of the same event posted by a Twitter account, APCYF South West also showed that the viral image was manipulated. In the video, it was the back of the ballot paper that was shown.

THE VERDICT: 

The claim that a former APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, voted for the PDP in the 2020 Edo Governorship election is FALSE. The image was manipulated.

Viral WhatsApp message on withdrawal of APC Edo governorship candidate is FALSE

Olugbenga ADANIKIN
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Viral WhatsApp message on withdrawal of APC Edo governorship candidate is FALSE

A WhatsApp message surfaced online less than 24 hours to the Edo state governorship election that  Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the poll has withdrawn from the race.

Edo, a state in Southern Nigeria holds its gubernatorial election on September 19, 2020 (today).

The message which was styled as a press release was titled “APC Withdrawal from Edo Election”

It reads: “Deeply distressing development says the Spokesperson, expressing strong support for the withdrawal of Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu from participating in Edo2020 Election”.

 

While adding that the Ize-Iyamu would not be participating in the election.

The message has been shared severally across different WhatsApp groups.

 

THE CLAIM:

That the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu withdrew from Edo governorship election race.

A screenshot of the claim from a WhatsApp group

THE FINDINGS:

The FactCheckHub checked the final list released by Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to verify if the party and its candidate have been removed from the contest as claimed in the viral message but the name of the APC candidate was present.

Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu (58)  is number 7 on the list.

The name of his deputy, Abudu Ganiyu Audu (50) was also  in the INEC list. He was listed number 8 in the document signed by Rose Oriaran-Anthony, Secretary to the electoral commission.

Unlike what is obtainable in the Nigerian media industry, the press statement was not signed by anyone.

Moreover, no such information was shared by official channels of the APC and the INEC.

Reports also affirmed Ize-Iyamu  voted at Ugboko Ward 4, Unit 26, Orhionmwon Local Government Area (LGA) of the state at about 9:25am on September 19, 2020.

In addition, Ize-Iyamu told the press that he is confident of winning after casting his vote on Saturday.

Earlier, the FactCheckHub fact-checked  misleading images circulating online in relation to the Edo election.

 

THE VERDICT: 

The  claim that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu withdrew from Edo governorship election race is FALSE.

Ize-Iyamu spoke to the press after casting his vote, saying that he is confident of winning.

Edo Election: Misleading images flood the internet

Bamas Victoria
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Edo Election: Misleading images flood the internet

Edo, a state in Southern Nigeria is set to hold its gubernatorial election on September 19, 2020. As the election holds on Saturday, misleading images flood the internet.

One of such images has the logo of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) displayed at a prominent position while showing the picture of a candidate and his deputy.

It also showed the data that unemployment rate in Edo has dropped from 25.1 per cent in the third quarter of 2018 to 19 per cent in the second quarter of 2020.

The image also have unemployment rate for other South-South states.

 

THE CLAIM:

That the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) designed the infograph with a political party logo showing the unemployment rate for Edo state for the third quarter of 2018 and second quarter of 2019.

 

THE FINDINGS:

Edo state is one of the states that hold off-season elections in the country. The Gubernatorial election in the state does not follow the timetable for the country’s general election.

One of the front-line contenders among the candidates for the Edo 2020 election is Godwin Obaseki, a former member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who is also the incumbent governor of the state. He is now the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the election. Obaseki became governor in 2016 through the APC platform.

The other contender is Osagie Ize-Iyamu who is the candidate of the APC.  He was the candidate for the PDP in the Edo 2016 election.

The NBS is the national body saddled with the responsibility of coordinating, researching and producing official statistics for Nigeria. In carrying out its duty, it is expected to be non-partisan. Therefore, having the PDP logo on an infograph being circulated days to an election in Edo state was a red flag.

Another red flag is the incomplete data on the poster; as the South-South  states’ unemployment rates were stated without specifying the year and the quarter.

Furthermore, when The FactCheckHub contacted the NBS information desk, they said the infograph did not emanate from them.

“We cannot do a poster like this,” says Sunday J. Ichedi, the Head, Public Affairs & International Relations Unit of the NBS in a phone interview.

Also, in response to the image sent to his WhatsApp, Ichedi said “The correct thing should  have been source: National Bureau of Statistics. Though the data [Edo unemployment rate] is correct but the design is not from NBS”.

Similarly, a different misleading image in relation to the Edo election also went viral following the Edo election debate which took place on Sunday, September 13, 2020.  The image shows the result of a poll and attributed it, in similar fashion with the aforemention, to Channels Television.

Although Channels TV did run a poll on “Who won Sunday’s Edo Governorship Debate?”  between Obaseki and Ize-Iyamu, the infograph attributed to them was in circulation even before TV’s online poll had closed.

In addition, the results were different from the authentic Channels TV’s polls showing 67.58 percent to 32.42 percent in favour of Obaseki as against the 76.3 percent to 23.7 percent still in favour of Obaseki that was attributed to them.

In response to this, the TV station via it Twitter issued  a disclaimer  which reads “Channels Television has no link with these graphics and the content contained in them. To vote in the Channels TV poll which went up after today’s debate and will run till tomorrow”.

One of the misleading images Channels Television issued disclaimer on

A multimedia journalist and social media strategist, Alade Abiodun, told the FactCheckHub that elections bring about the proliferation of misinformation.

He said misleading images are in circulation because “It is the season of election.”

Alade explained that “Politicians, their supporters and apologists will want to woo voters by selling their preferred candidates, not minding if they make use of misleading information to achieve this”.

He further stated that “Some are deliberate, others are done out of mischief with the sole aim of scoring political gains.”

 

THE VERDICT:

Although the unemployment rate in Edo’s third quarter in 2018 is 25.1 per cent and second quarter of 2019 is  19 per cent, the infograph did not emanate from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS); therefore, attributing the claim to the institution is MISLEADING.

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