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Please note that the FactCheckHub has not obtained any right from the authors or copyright owners of all third-party contents from embedded links and shall incur no liability in this regard.
Please note that the FactCheckHub has not obtained any right from the authors or copyright owners of all third-party contents from embedded links and shall incur no liability in this regard.
An X user, @VivianRora, has claimed that 57 per cent of Nigerians practice the Christian religion.
She wrote: “Muslim–Muslim ticket is partially Islamization. In a country that’s 57% Christian, two Muslims leading isn’t just politics; it’s Islamization. And as a Christian, I’m offended.”
The post has generated over 5000 likes and more than 2,000 reposts as of the time of this report.
CLAIM
Christians constitute more than half of Nigeria’s population.
screenshot of a post claiming Christians constitute 57% of the Nigeria population
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.
The claim went viral due to the recent allegation of Christian genocide in Nigeria. Recall that the President of the United States, Donald Trump, in a Truth Social post later shared on the official White House X handle, announced that he had designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), citing what he described as “an existential threat to Christianity.”
“Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ — but that is the least of it,” Trump wrote.
Since the claim was made, there have been various claims on the proportion of the Christian and muslim population in Nigeria.
However, checks on authoritative demographic sources do not support the assertion that Christians make up 57 per cent of Nigeria’s population.
The Pew Research Centre, based in the United States, is one of the most widely referenced global authorities on religious demographics, including in Nigeria. Its population estimates are frequently cited by governments, researchers, international organisations, and media outlets because the centre uses large-scale surveys, global datasets, and long-term projections to study religious affiliation trends.
When discussing the proportion of Christians and Muslims in Nigeria, Pew’s reports, such as its Religion and Public Life studies and global religious composition forecasts, are often treated as benchmark references due to their methodological rigour and international credibility. For instance, the U.S. Department of State’s 2022 International Religious Freedom Report cites its 2015 findings on the proportion of Christians and muslims in Nigeria.
According to the centre, Muslims made up a majority of Nigeria’s total population (56.1%), while Christians made up 43.4% as of 2020. While all other groups made up 0.6% of the national population.
Similarly, the CIA World Factbook’s 2018 estimate put the population at 53.5 per cent Muslim and 45.9 per cent Christian.
More recent demographic modelling by Statista shows a similar balance, placing Islam at 50.5 per cent of the population and Christianity at 45.5 per cent, with traditional religions making up the remainder.
Additionally, the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA), in its 2025 projection, estimates 46.3 per cent Muslims and 45.8 per cent Christians, also showing near parity.
None of these reputable datasets places the Christian population at above 50 per cent.
The FactCheckHub sent a direct message to the X user, @VivianRora, for the source of her data, but she has not replied as of the time of filing this fact check.
VERDICT
The claim that Christians constitute 57 per cent of Nigeria’s population is FALSE. Multiple credible demographic sources consistently show that the population of Christians in Nigeria is less than half, with no credible evidence supporting the figure cited in the viral post.
A quote attributed to President Bola Tinubu has been misrepresented online to suggest that it reflects the presidency’s position on the recent clash between the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and a Nigerian Navy officer, Ahmed Yerima.
The quote reads: “They Put Their Lives On The Line To Defend The Sovereignty Of This Country.”
“President Tinubu Snubs The FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Backs Lieutenant A.M. Yerima And The Entire Military, Saying “They Put Their Lives On The Line To Defend The Sovereignty Of This Country.”
President Bola Tinubu backed the military over the altercation involving FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and a naval officer.
screenshot of the post claiming Tinubu backs Army over Wike
FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING as the quote was taken out of context.
Recall that on 11 November 2025, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike clashed with Lieutenant Ahmed Yerima of the Nigerian Navy over land in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The land reportedly belonged to retired Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo (retd.).
The confrontation occurred after Wike accused the former naval chief of carrying out illegal construction on the property. When personnel from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) went to halt the development, Yerima allegedly assaulted the officers, prompting the minister’s intervention.
In a viral video, Wike questioned the presence of the military on the disputed land, insisting that the ex-naval chief had no legal documents to support his claim. Yerima responded that he and his men were acting on superior orders and refused to vacate the site.
Checks, however, show that the quote in circulation has nothing to do with the tussle that ensued between a Naval officer and the FCT minister.
Tinubu commented on the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) conference in Abuja on November 12, discussing the role the military plays in protecting the lives and properties of citizens.
He stated that, given the risks Nigerian soldiers take to protect the country’s territorial integrity, the military deserves the support and encouragement of all Nigerians.
“Yes, we are challenged by terrorism, banditry, and others. We recognise that. “Are we doing something about it? Are we inspiring the armed forces? Are we encouraging them to fight?
“They put their lives on the line to defend the sovereignty of this country. It is our responsibility,” he said
The President’s comments came in the context of recent calls on the Federal Government to nip the spate of killings by terrorists and bandits in the bud.
Earlier in the month, United States President Trump said Christianity faces an existential threat in Nigeria, describing the alleged killing as a “mass slaughter”.
The US president added that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening”.
But the Federal Government urged the US President to be understanding in his approach to Nigeria’s security challenges.
It said it was winning the war against terrorism with major achievements recorded in the north-eastern part of the country.
A keyword search online did not show any statement from the president on the matter.
VERDICT
The claim that the quote is the president’s reaction to the tussle that occurred between FCT minister, Nyesom Wike and the Nigerian army is MISLEADING. The quote was taken out of context.
A video circulating on social media claims to show President Bola Tinubu responding to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s recent clash with a Nigerian Navy officer.
The short clip shows Tinubu while addressing the press saying: “Wike is a good man and a performing minister.”
A Facebook page, Progressive Nigerian Politics, posted the video with the caption:
The post has attracted hundreds of reactions and comments as of November 19, 2025.
THE CLAIM
Video shows President Tinubu praising Wike in response to his recent confrontation with a naval officer in the FCT.
screenshot of claim that Tinubu backs Wike
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
On 11 November 2025, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike clashed with a Lieutenant, Ahmed Yerima of the Nigerian Navy over land in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The land reportedly belonged to retired Chief of Naval Staff.
The confrontation occurred after Wike accused the former naval chief of carrying out illegal construction on the property. When personnel from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) went to halt the development, Yerima allegedly stopped the officers, prompting the minister’s intervention.
In a viral video, Wike questioned the presence of the military on the disputed land, insisting that the ex-naval chief had no legal documents to support his claim. Yerima responded that he and his men were acting on superior orders and refused to vacate the site.
The viral video of Tinubu praising Wike, however, predates the November 11 FCT incident by nearly a year. A longer version of the clip was posted by Leadership, Pulse Ng and several other credible platforms in December 2024.
In the full video, Tinubu was addressing journalists in Lagos, commending Wike’s performance and describing him as a “goldmine” and a “performing minister.”
The remarks were not related to any clash with the Navy.
VERDICT
The claim that the video shows President Tinubu praising Wike after a recent altercation with a Naval officer is MISLEADING. The video was recorded in December 2024, not after the November 2025 incident in FCT.
THE 2025 Anambra governorship election, held on November 8, drew nationwide attention as residents of the state went to the polls to elect their next administrator.
Despite high expectations for a transparent electoral process, the campaign period, election day, and the aftermath were characterised by a flurry of unverified claims and viral content designed to confuse voters and undermine the electoral process.
Reports circulated online claiming that a certain candidate had won, violent incidents occurred, that officials were caught with cash, and that voting malpractices were rampant. Many of these stories, however, were found to be false or misleading, fact-checks by the Nigerian Fact-Checkers’ Coalition (NFC) later revealed.
Over the three days, the coalition fact-checked multiple claims but were able to conclude on a total of 28 claims. Out of these, six were verified as correct, 14 as incorrect, seven as misleading, and one as unproven. Here is a recap of some of the claims fact-checked.
Analysis of claims fact-checked
Misinformation about candidates and voting processes
Before voters cast their ballots, several claims sought to mislead the electorate about the voting process and the political landscape. For instance, an X user, @mr_niceguy234, claimed that Governor Chukwuma Soludo had declared November 7 a public holiday specifically for teachers to serve as delegates. NFC investigations revealed that while the state did declare a holiday, it applied to all workers, and no official documentation supported the teacher-specific claim.
An X user @starvillageboy (archived link)claimed that the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) did not field any candidate in the Anambra gubernatorial election.
According to the finalreport from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially lists PDP candidate Jude Ezewanfor in the Anambra governorship race. He has also appeared in multiplemedia interviews, sharing his plans for the state if elected.
Similarly, a Facebook post circulated urging voters to use their index finger to mark ballots. The claim contradicted INEC guidance, stating that any finger could be used as long as the mark was clear.
A social media user alleged that voter turnout had historically never exceeded 22 per cent, yet analysis of past elections showed turnout closer to 46–47 per cent. These pre-election misrepresentations were designed to create doubt about the electoral process and potentially influence voter behaviour.
Misleading images and videos
During and immediately after voting, social media became a hub for misleading visuals and misinformation about candidates.
For instance, a video showing women being assisted to thumbprint ballots, shared by Nigeria Undivided on TikTok, was originally posted in 2023 and had no connection to the Anambra election. Other claims suggested local government chairpersons were caught with cash or that certain candidates, like the Anambra East chairperson, intimidated voters with armed men. Investigations confirmed that neither police nor observers witnessed any intimidation, and the purported arrests were found to be false.
Even high-profile claims gained traction. A Facebook user, Michael Chibuzo, alleged that two of Soludo’s mayors were caught with N750 million each. Field checks with the Anambra State Police Command disproved this, confirming no such arrests occurred.
Similarly, a video circulated by Bube Africà showed bundles of cash purportedly delivered as “election-sensitive materials,” but reverse image searches traced it back to Obi Cubana’s birthday celebration months earlier.
Adding to the wave of misinformation, the ADC coalition circulated images of a “Ghana-Must-Go” bag filled with cash, alleging widespread collusion between APGA and APC. A reverse image check revealed that these photos were from 2019 in Benue State, unrelated to the Anambra elections.
Misleading photo by shared by ADC to depict vote buying in Anambra
Misinformation about violent incidents
It is not so uncommon to see false reports of violence during the election. The Anambra is not different. On the day of the election, an X user, @Ojay147, posted a photograph of a man with a head injury, claiming it was from election-related violence. NFC traced the image back to 2018, during a clash among APGA party members in Dunukofia Local Government Area, proving the post misleading.
Old photo falsely linked to violence in the Anambra election
Similarly, a Facebook user, Ogechukwu Akwaeze,claimedthat the local government chairperson of Anambra East, Ifeanyi Chinweze, visited Community Development Primary School, Umueri Ward 2, Unit 003, accompanied by armed men to disrupt the election and intimidate voters.
The CJID observer Grace Nnoruka informed NFC that the LGA chairperson visited some polling units in the area. She also confirmed the presence of police vans in the polling unit but noted there was no form of intimidation. The observer stated that the LG chairperson and the police arrived at different times but departed almost simultaneously.Images from Arise TV confirm the peaceful conduct of the election at the polling unit.
False and premature result claims
In the aftermath of voting, social media became a hub for premature and misleading claims about the election outcome. For instance, on November 9, an X user, @whitenigerian, falsely claimed that APGA had secured 72.5 per cent of the votes, while others prematurely congratulated Governor Charles Soludo as the winner. Another X user asserted that Soludo had won with 361,893 votes, yet the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed the actual figure as 422,664 votes.
Meanwhile, reports that Ezechukwu Nweke, Action Alliance candidate, was leading the polls were entirely false, as vote collation had not yet been completed at the time of posting.
In addition, the African Democratic Congress (ADC)coalitionposted some photos of collation sheets on its X account, claiming the results were fake to discredit the coalition.
A comparison between the photosuploaded by the user and those available on the INEC IReV portal for polling units 005 Amadim V Square I (Achalla III LGA), 010 UGA B.S.S I (Aguata LGA), 039 Obosi Central School III, and 014 Obosi Central School I (both in Idemili North LGA) shows that the results are identical, accurate, and were not manipulated, contrary to the ADC coalition’s claim.
Accurate claims
Not all the viral claims surrounding the Anambra 2025 governorship election were false. Some posts circulating online accurately reflected the unfolding realities of the poll.
For instance, an X user @Tkoy2025 had claimed that there was “massive vote-buying” by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the election. This was verified as correct by the Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition (NFC) after reporters from Premium Times and The ICIR confirmed witnessing incidents of voters being induced with cash across multiple polling units in the state. Early reports from Premium Times also corroborated that such practices were “rampant” in some areas.
Similarly, another verified claim came from a post highlighting results at a micro-level polling unit in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area – the home community of Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi. The claim stated that the APC governorship candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu, defeated the LP candidate with 73 votes to 57 votes at Polling Unit 019, Umudim Akasi Square, Agulu II Ward. This was confirmed correct through data obtained from the INEC IReV portal, which matched the figures precisely as stated online.
One of the MIL cards.
In addition, the NFC verified other localised realities of the election, including reports of technical delays linked to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and verified posts describing the deployment of an AI-powered real-time result dashboard, which processed updates from all 5,720 polling units across Anambra State. These confirmed instances reflected the evolving use of technology in election monitoring and the growing accuracy of certain user-generated election content.
Another verified incident involved Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s directive to remove Arabic inscriptions from certain public materials in Anambra State. Reports circulating on social media claimed that Soludo had ordered the removal of Arabic scripts from some government signage and documents. A check on theofficial website of the nation’s apex bank reveals that Soludo was the governor of the CBN in Nigeria at the time the shift was made.
Likewise, claims of BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System) malfunctions delaying voting at Polling Unit 001, Fegge Ward 5, were confirmed by Channels TV and Sahara Reporters, showing that certain operational issues affected accreditation and voting. The claim that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) only got 1,401 votes is also correct.
Media Information Literacy articles
During the Anambra 2025 governorship election, the Nigerian Fact-Checkers’ Coalition (NFC) produced seven quick media and information literacy (MIL) articles and cards to guide voters, prevent misinformation, and strengthen public understanding of election processes. These were from the pre-election MIL.
The articles which were done in response to misinformation trends advised voters on what to do after casting their ballots, including monitoring the process peacefully, encouraging others to vote, observing the collation of results, and reporting any irregularities. They also provided practical steps for detecting fake election results, including verifying sources, avoiding premature claims, checking the authenticity of EC60E forms, and ignoring anonymous posts.
The NFC further explained how voters can identify old or misleading videos through careful observation, reverse image searches, timeline checks, context evaluation, and keyword searches. Cards also directed citizens to credible platforms such as NEC, reputable media, and fact-checkers for authentic election results.
One of the MIL cards.
Other articles focused on election-day offences like vote buying, impersonation, incitement, campaigning near polling units, and the legal penalties attached. Voters were reminded to stay alert for misinformation during result collation, rely on multiple credible sources, and verify before sharing.
Additional guides outlined how gubernatorial votes are counted from polling units to RA, LGA, and state collation along with the role of security agencies. The NFC also clarified who is legally allowed access to collation centres, restricting entry to accredited officials, agents, security personnel, and journalists.
This analysis was done from live checks conducted by members of the Nigerian Fact-checkers Coalition(NFC) for the Anambra Gubernatorial Election.
A TikTok account, “wakawakaplanet”, has posted a video showing women wailing in front of a building engulfed in fire with a claim that it showed a church razed by terror groups in Nigeria.
The account posted the video with a caption:
“Another Church burned down by Islamic brotherhood in northern Nigeria.”
CLAIM
Video shows church set ablaze in Nigeria.
screenshot of the viral post
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
Trump, in a Truth Social post later shared on the official White House X handle, announced that he had designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), citing what he described as “an existential threat to Christianity.”
“Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ — but that is the least of it,” Trump wrote.
Citing alarming figures, he added:“When Christians, or any such group, are slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 worldwide), something must be done. I am asking Congressman Riley Moore, together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to immediately look into this matter and report back to me. The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other countries.”
The post immediately stirred outrage and confusion in Nigeria, prompting a string of misleading information including images and videos.
The FactCheckHub conducted reverse image searches on keyframes from the clip, the result showed that the same clip was posted on Instagram on November 2, 2025.
The post describes the video as a “heart-wrenching moment” when fire engulfed the hostels of “Kwapong Nursing Training College in the Asunafo South District of the Ahafo Region”.
“The crackling of burning wood and the acrid smell of smoke filled the air, further intensifying the emotional turmoil among these young aspiring healthcare professionals whose safe haven was now being reduced to ashes before their very eyes,” part of the caption reads.
At the end of the caption, the post adds that the incident happened on “Friday, 31st October 2025”.
Using keywords from the caption to conduct an internet search, we found numerous articles in Ghanaian media such as Ghana Web and Angel FM Kumasi about the fire at the nursing school.
VERDICT
The claim that the video shows a church set ablaze in Nigeria is MISLEADING. Findings showed that the video is from Ghana.
A claim has circulated online alleging that former Kano State governor and NNPP presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, deleted his X post responding to Donald Trump’s comments on Christian genocide in Nigeria.
The claim was made by an X user, Noble Igwe in a post.
The post read:
So the same people who hailed Kwankwaso as the ‘strong man’ and mocked Peter Obi as ‘weak’, what do they have to say now that Kwankwaso has deleted his tweet? Does strength suddenly have a new definition or we should shut up?”
Since the claim’s inception on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, it has garnered an impression of over 150,000 views, 4,500 likes, and 1,500 reposts.
Following recent reports, U.S. President Donald Trump had redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” citing alleged cases of Christian persecution. Trump followed the resdesignation with a was quoted as threatening that the United States would suspend all aid to Nigeria and could even launch a military operation to wipe out Islamic terrorists killing Christians.
Trump’s pronouncement generated widespread reactions across Nigeria, drawing comments from government officials, political figures, including Kwankwaso.
CLAIM
Kwankwaso delete X posts reacting to Trump’s comments.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub reveal the claim is FALSE!
Screenshot of the claim; Insert FALSE Verdict
Trump, in a Truth Social post later shared on the official White House X handle, announced that he had designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), citing what he described as “an existential threat to Christianity.”
“Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ — but that is the least of it,” Trump wrote.
He added, “When Christians, or any such group, are slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 worldwide), something must be done. I am asking Congressman Riley Moore, together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to immediately look into this matter and report back to me. The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other countries.”
The FactCheckHub conducted a keyword search and manual review of Kwankwaso’s official X handle, @KwankwasoRM, to verify the claim. Findings show that the post reacting to Donald Trump’s alleged comment on “Christian genocide” in Nigeria is still available on his timeline and has not been deleted, as claimed by Noble Igwe.
The post read:
I have noted with increasing concern the heightened pronouncements on Nigeria by President Donald Trump. This follows his designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern.” It is important to emphasise that our country is a sovereign nation whose people face different threats from outlaws across the country. The insecurity we face does not distinguish based on religious, ethnic, or political beliefs. The United States should assist the Nigerian authorities with better cutting-edge technology to tackle these problems, rather than posing a threat that could further polarise our country. The Nigerian government should also consider appointing special envoys from its distinguished diplomats to engage the American government. Additionally, it is necessary to appoint permanent ambassadors to represent Nigeria’s interests on the international stage. To my fellow countrymen, this is an important moment where we should emphasise unity of belonging over division. God bless Nigeria. – RMK
Since the claim was posted on Friday, November 7, 2025, it has garnered over 500,000 views, 3,800 likes, 1,000 reposts, and 1,400 comments.
CLAIM
Donald Trump revokes 80,000 visas, all belonging to Nigerians
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub indicate that the claim is MISLEADING!
Screenshot of the claim; Insert MISLEADING Verdict
A check on the keywords “Trump 80,000 Visas” brought out news-related searches from both international and local media outlets, indicating that the revoked visas affected Nigerians as well as nationals from other countries.
In a report published on November 6, 2025, Fox News stated that the U.S. Department of State had withdrawn the visas of more than 80,000 individuals as part of a broad immigration enforcement initiative launched in January under President Donald Trump’s administration. Those affected included both Nigerians and foreign nationals from other countries.
Similarly, Reuters confirmed that the revocation applied to citizens of multiple countries, including Nigeria, and linked the action to various offences such as driving under the influence, assault, and theft.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, says he has the “obligation” to sue the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) over what he described as the “butchering” of his January 6, 2021, speech in its Panorama documentary.
According to Trump, the programme distorted his remarks and presented them out of context. Appearing on Fox News’s The Ingraham Angle, the president was asked if he would go ahead with the lawsuit, responding, “well I guess I have to, you know, why not, because they defrauded the public, and they’ve admitted it”.
Trump continued: “They actually changed my January 6 speech, which was a beautiful speech, which was a very calming speech, and they made it sound radical.
“And they actually changed it. What they did was rather incredible.”
Asked again if he would proceed with the legal action, he said, “Well I think I have an obligation to do it, because you can’t get people, you can’t allow people to do that.”
Trump’s lawyers have given the BBC until Friday to retract the programme, issue a public apology, and pay $1 billion in damages. The letter, sent on Sunday, alleged that the BBC’s edit caused “significant harm to President Trump’s reputation.”
BBC Chair Samir Shah has previously admitted to an “error of judgment” regarding the cut, saying that the segment should have been presented in full or with clearer context.
It is the first time Trump has personally addressed the issue since his legal team’s warning letter was sent, marking an escalation in the dispute between the U.S. president and the U.K.’s publicly funded broadcaster.
The controversy began in October 2024, when the BBC aired an episode of its investigative series Panorama titled “Trump: A Second Chance?” ahead of the U.S. presidential election. The programme included heavily edited excerpts from Trump’s January 6, 2021 rally speech, which critics said misleadingly suggested that he explicitly incited the crowd to attack the U.S. Capitol.
In early 2025, a leaked internal memo from a former BBC editorial adviser revealed that internal warnings about the misleading edit were ignored by senior executives. The revelation triggered a storm of criticism over the broadcaster’s editorial oversight.
By November 2025, the fallout had grown into a full-blown crisis with the BBC’s Director-General, Tim Davie, and its News CEO, Deborah Turness, resigning amid public outrage and political pressure. BBC Chair Samir Shah issued an apology, admitting that the edit “gave the impression of a direct call for violent action.”
Trump’s lawyers subsequently demanded a formal apology, full retraction, and compensation for “reputational harm,” threatening to pursue a $1 billion lawsuit if the BBC failed to comply.
SINCE President Donald Trump threatened to “invade Nigeria” over alleged persecution of Christians, the Nigerian government has struggled to mount a coherent response.
The government’s response has been marked by hurried diplomatic statements, contradictory political comments, and conflicting stances as it tries to mount an information offensive to counter the accusation, which it describes as “inconsistent” with realities in Nigeria.
Trump, in a Truth Social post later shared on the official White House X handle, announced that he had designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), citing what he described as “an existential threat to Christianity.”
“Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ — but that is the least of it,” Trump wrote.
Citing alarming figures, he added: “When Christians, or any such group, are slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 worldwide), something must be done. I am asking Congressman Riley Moore, together with Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to immediately look into this matter and report back to me. The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other countries.”
The post immediately stirred fear and confusion in Nigeria, prompting an uncoordinated string of official responses. Ministries, lawmakers, and presidential aides issued conflicting statements, each taking a different tone. Below are some disjointed responses which exposed the absence of a central communications strategy by the Nigerian Government.
Even before the Presidency reacted, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was the first to issue a statement. On Saturday, the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, rejected Trump’s claims, saying they did not accurately reflect Nigeria’s realities.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria notes the recent remarks by US President Donald Trump alleging large-scale killings of Christians in Nigeria and calling for the country’s designation as a ‘Country of Particular Concern.
“These claims do not reflect the situation on the ground. Nigerians of all faiths have long lived, worked, and worshipped together peacefully,” said the ministry.
The government said that while it appreciated global concern for human rights and religious freedom, the allegations were inaccurate and misrepresented the country’s realities.
However, the statement was swiftly deleted even after being widely reported and shared by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga and replaced with a toned-down version.
The revised release removed Trump’s name, avoided the term “genocide,” and took on a conciliatory tone centred on “shared values” and “partnership” with the United States.
The change signalled internal confusion over how aggressively Nigeria should respond. The initial statement was assertive and diplomatic, defending the country’s image. The replacement, however, appeared designed to de-escalate tensions and project a calmer posture, suggesting that higher political consultations had overruled the ministry’s earlier defiance.
Akpabio and Barau differ on Senate’s response
The discord was also evident in the National Assembly. On Tuesday, a mild drama played out on the Senate floor as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his deputy, Jibrin Barau, took opposing stances on Trump’s remarks.
Akpabio, reacting to a viral report by the social media platform RANT HQ that misquoted him as rebuffing Trump’s statement, clarified that he had not attacked the former U.S. president. “Who am I to answer Trump?” he said, stressing that he only spoke based on the Senate’s collective position.
Barau, however, struck a defiant tone. “I’m not scared of Trump. I will say my mind. I’m a Nigerian, and Nigeria is a sovereign nation,” he interjected. “Don’t be scared of Trump. You can say your mind about him — we are a sovereign nation.”
While both leaders defended Nigeria’s sovereignty, Akpabio’s cautious diplomacy clashed with Barau’s confrontational style, leaving the Senate’s official stance unclear at a time the nation needed a structured response and resolution.
Lawmaker dragged for “blind loyalty”
In the midst of the controversy, a Nigerian lawmaker drew public backlash after posting on X: “Tinubu leads… we follow.” Many citizens accused him of blind loyalty rather than offering critical oversight.
One user, Onyi Vincent Obiannu, wrote: “A Nigerian senator, ladies and gentlemen. Those that should be checking the president have become the president’s puppet.”
Another user, Habeeb, added: “This isn’t even about Tinubu, yet you’re still doing this? BAT is your party member — you’re supposed to hold him accountable, not cheerlead him in the middle of a diplomatic crisis.”
Old tweet backfires against Tinubu
As the Christian genocide narrative gained traction, an old 2014 tweet from President Bola Tinubu resurfaced and quickly became ammunition for critics. In the post, then-opposition leader Tinubu had slammed former President Goodluck Jonathan for failing to protect Christian worshippers in Borno and Adamawa States.
screenshot of Tinubu old tweet
“The slaughtering of Christian worshippers is strongly condemnable. It calls into question the competence of Jonathan to protect Nigerians,” Tinubu wrote at the time.
Eleven years later, the statement has returned to haunt him. Many Nigerians are now juxtaposing his past criticism with the current U.S. allegations, accusing the Tinubu administration of hypocrisy and inconsistency in handling issues of religious violence.
The resurfaced tweet has become a significant public relations setback for the government’s effort to control the narrative.
Confusion over meeting with Trump
The controversy also showed when reports emerged that President Tinubu was scheduled to travel to the United States for a high-level diplomatic meeting with Trump. Sahara Reporters claimed that Trump had delegated Vice President James David Vance to meet Tinubu during the visit.
However, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, dismissed the report as “false and misleading,” accusing the media of fuelling unnecessary speculation.
Similarly, Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, later confirmed that Tinubu would meet Trump “in the coming days” but declined to specify when or where.
Amid the diplomatic turbulence, the Presidency has reportedly fast-tracked the appointment of ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions a process that had stalled for over a year.
Sources say the urgency stems from Nigeria’s diplomatic vulnerability at a time when Washington and other Western allies are scrutinizing its human rights record.
The vacuum dates back to September 2023, when Tinubu recalled all 109 ambassadors. Since then, most missions have been run by chargés d’affaires, leaving Nigeria without ambassador-level representation in key countries, including the United States. Analysts argue that this absence hampered Nigeria’s capacity for high-level engagement and made its diplomatic responses sluggish during the crisis.
State officials describe the ongoing appointments as a “damage-control” move — aimed at restoring Nigeria’s global posture and ensuring that the country has authoritative voices to defend its image abroad. But critics warn that rushing the process under external pressure could lead to politically motivated appointments rather than merit-based selections.
As one foreign policy analyst put it: “There is no authoritative figure to speak for Nigeria in Washington. Without an ambassador, even the most serious diplomatic outreach becomes bureaucratic and slow. It weakens Nigeria’s ability to defend itself.”
Nigeria government’s official response
Officially responding to the allegation, President Tinubu declared that Nigeria will remain firm as a democracy governed by a Constitution that guarantees religious liberty.
The President, writing on his X handle, in apparent reference to President Donald Trump’s declaration of Nigeria as ” Country of particular Concern”, said his administration has remained open to both Christians and Muslims.
The President noted that his administration is addressing issues around insecurity, which has continued to affect citizens across faiths and religions.
“Since 2023, our administration has maintained an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions,” Tinubu said on X.
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.
“Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths.
“Our administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation on protection of communities of all faiths.”
THE 2025 Anambra Governorship Election has come to a close, but the story is far from over. This LIVE update brings you the latest developments.
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 located in Lagos and Abuja, to debunk election-related misinformation and disinformation content targeted at causing voter apathy, inciting violence or influencing the outcome of gubernatorial poll.
Do you have an election-related claim you want us to fact-check?
updated with verified checks. Kindly scroll downward to read them.
CLAIM 4
CLAIM: An X user, @whitenigerian, claimed the final result of the 2025 Anambra election has been released, with APGA getting 72.5% of the votes, APC 17.4%, LP 2%, and PDP 0.2%
FINDINGS: As of 7:10 AM, the NFC checked the INEC Election Result Viewer (IReV) and noticed that only 99.33% of the results have been collated. Moreover, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not announced the final results of the election. Furthermore, the NFC contacted Amina Miango, an election observer from the Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID), who stated that there has yet to be an official announcement from INEC. Besides, no reputable news outlet has reported the announcement of any Anambra election result.
VERDICT: INCORRECT
SOURCES: IReV portal, CJID election observer
DATE: 9/11/2025
FACTCHECK AUTHOR: Cole Praise
EDITORS: Simbiat Bakare
CLAIM 3
CLAIM: The African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalitionposted some photos of collation sheets on its X account, claiming the results were fake to discredit the coalition.
FINDINGS: A comparison between the photos uploaded by the user and those available on the INEC IReV portal for polling units 005 Amadim V Square I (Achalla III LGA), 010 UGA B.S.S I (Aguata LGA), 039 Obosi Central School III, and 014 Obosi Central School I (both in Idemili North LGA) shows that the results are identical, accurate, and were not manipulated, contrary to the ADC coalition’s claim.
CLAIM: A Facebook user claimed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) only got 1,401 votes in the Anambra election as of Sunday, November 9.
FINDINGS: Mainstream media reports the total figure for PDP in the election as 1,401. Meanwhile, INEC has declared Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as the winner of the election after polling a total of 422,664 votes, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 99,445 votes.
CLAIM: The ADC coalition shared an image of a Ghana-Must-Go bag stuffed with money on X (archived here) as evidence of “collusion everywhere” in the election; that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) “turned the process into a heist and pushed out the coalition.”
FINDINGS: A reverse image check reveals that the image of the “Ghana Must Go” bag shared by ADC is unrelated to the just-concluded election. The image is from 2019, when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seized cash during a patrol against vote-buying in Makurdi, Benue State. Although there have been reports of vote buying, Premium Times and Sahara TV posted the exact picture on Mar. 9, 2019.
