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Claim that Wike has been banned from entering the Villa is FALSE!

Fatimah Quadri
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Claim that Wike has been banned from entering the Villa is FALSE!

A claim that the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, has been banned from entering Nigeria’s Presidential Villa following an event involving the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, has circulated online.

The claim posted by an X user, @PO_GrassRootM, on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, read:

BREAKING: Wike Reportedly Banned From Aso Rock Over Incident With Indian Prime Minister.

READ: Did Antony Blinken name Peter Obi, Wike, Keyamo, others in US visa ban announcement?

The post has garnered a traction of over 400,000 views, plus over 4,000 likes and 825 reposts as of November 21, 2024.

CLAIM

Wike has been banned from entering Nigeria’s Presidential Villa.

 

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE!

Screenshot of the claim retrieved from X; INSERT False verdict
Screenshot of the claim retrieved from X. INSERT: False verdict.

Hours after the incident, there was no statement from the Nigerian presidency announcing the ban on the FCT Minister from entering the Aso Villa.

Similarly, Peoples Gazette reports that the presidency had kept mum on the issue despite being known for promptly rebutting critics of the Bola Tinubu administration, even while the minister trended on X with accusations of being intoxicated while on official duty.

ALSO READ: Dino Melaye shares misleading video of Nigerian Army accusing Wike of attempting to compromise election

Further findings show that no media house reported the issue, as such an event would be widely reported by multiple media outfits.

But when our fact-checker reached out to Bayo Onanuga, a spokesperson in the Nigerian presidency, he responded via SMS with a terse sentence: “it’s a lie”.

 

Screenshot of the SMS Onanuga sent in response to our fact-checker’s enquiry.

THE VERDICT

The claim that Wike has been banned from entering Nigeria’s Presidential Villa is FALSE; Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson debunked it and there’s no credible media report announcing the ban.

Video does not show Oluomo’s belongings thrown out of NURTW office in Abuja after appeal court judgement

Nurudeen Akewushola
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Video does not show Oluomo’s belongings thrown out of NURTW office in Abuja after appeal court judgement

A video showing packed portraits and other properties belonging to Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly called MC Oluomo, has surfaced online, with claims that he was evicted from office following a recent judgement by Nigeria’s Appeal Court.

On November 9, 2024, reports emerged that MC Oluomo was elected the president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), allegedly running unopposed for the position.

He was said to have received unanimous support from all delegates during the union’s quadrennial delegate conference for Zone 2, held in Osogbo, Osun State capital.

READ: Osun election: False claim circulates that Gboyega Oyetola wins at Appeal Court

However, the Court of Appeal in Abuja voided the election that led to his declaration as the National President and affirmed Tajudeen Baruwa as the duly re-elected president of the union.

An X user,  @chiditweets042 posted the video with a caption that read: 

“As Court sack Mc Oluomo dem no waste time throwaway his Belongings from NURTW Office.”

The post has generated over 1,500 reposts and more than 3,000 likes as of November 20, 2024.

Another  X user, @dammiedammie35 posted the claim with a similar caption thus: 

“After his short lived victory, MC Oluomo’s many portraits and other items cleared out of the office of NURTW National President following his sack by Court of Appeal.”

The post has generated over 700 reposts and more than 3,000 likes as of November 20, 2024.

 

CLAIM 

Video shows properties of MC Oluomo thrown out of NURTW office in Abuja after appeal court judgement.

THE FINDINGS 

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.

Keyframes from the video were subjected to a Google reverse image search. The results indicate that the video depicts the relocation of MC Oluomo’s belongings from his former office in Agege, Lagos, to his new office in Abuja. Until his recent appointment, he served as the Lagos State Chairman of the NURTW, with an office at the union’s Lagos secretariat.

A review of the Lagos secretariat’s location via Google Map confirmed that the building in the video is indeed the NURTW office in Lagos.

ALSO READ: Doctored image of Peter Obi with MC Oluomo circulates online

In addition, his son, Idowu Akinsanya, better known as King Westt via an Instagram post also clarified that video showed the items being moved from his father’s old office to his new office in Abuja.

“Yall should be wise and smart for once, Immediately a leader leaves office, a successor comes in. So do you expect the president of NURTW to remain in the state office? That’s not possible. All his things are packed out from his former office to his new office. Come to Abuja and you meet us there.. get the address online peeps. Love and light great Nigerians,” he wrote on his Instagram page.  

Screenshot of Idowu’s IG story.

He further shared a clip of people hailing his father on Tuesday as he arrived in Abuja after a trip to the US.

The FactCheckHub notes that a Court of Appeal judgement does not automatically remove someone from office. In similar cases, officials have remained in office while appealing to the Supreme Court, which has the final say. For example, in November 2023, the Court of Appeal sacked Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, but he remained in office until the Supreme Court affirmed his election.

Meanwhile, Oluomo has announced on his Instagram page that he has resumed his duties and is ready to serve as the NURTW president despite the court’s judgement.

He declared that he has resumed with a renewed focus, recharged energy, and a determination to excel, stating he has no time for distractions.

According to him, regardless of the opportunities, successes, or challenges ahead, he is prepared to move forward with a focused and unstoppable mindset.

Another report by Punch newspaper on November 20, 2024 also confirmed that MC Oluomo defied the Appeal court judgement and has assumed office as NURTW president since Tuesday.

 

THE VERDICT 

The claim that the video shows MC Oluomo’s properties being moved out of his new office after the appeal court’s judgement is MISLEADING; checks show that the video revealed when his properties were being moved out from his former Lagos office.

No, Pastor Adeboye did not stage protest against Jonathan’s administration

Nurudeen Akewushola
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No, Pastor Adeboye did not stage protest against Jonathan’s administration

AN image showing the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, holding placards on the street amid crowds has resurfaced online with claims that he protested against former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

The cleric has come under fire online following his comment on Nigeria’s naira-to-dollar exchange rate.

In a trending video, the cleric said the naira-to-dollar exchange rate would have been up to N10,000 if not for him and some persons entering into a prayer session for the country.

According to Adeboye, it was the special prayer that kept the naira-to-dollar exchange rate at over N1,000.

An X user, @PureStanley1 posted the image with a caption thus:

“GEJ became acting president on the 9th of February 2010.

By October 2010, Pastor Adeboye was already criticising him and threatening a one million man march against his government

Remember that!!!”

The post has generated over 4,000 reposts with more than 10,000 likes as of November 20, 2024.

Another X user, @Voiceofigbos posted the image with another caption that read:

“If you re Igbo and still attending this church may it never be well with you.

He was bold enough to stage a protest because there is Ebele in Jonathan Name.

This church train bigots.”

The post has generated over 1,000 reposts and 2,000 likes as of November 20, 2024.

 

CLAIM

Photo shows Pastor Adeboye protesting against Nigerian government during ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

 

THE FINDINGS

Checks by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.

To verify the claim, our fact-checker conducted a Google reverse image search to trace the origin of the image. Results from the search revealed that the image was taken in 2020 during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Findings showed that the photo was from a peaceful protest led by Pastor Adeboye, aimed at drawing attention to widespread killings in the country at the time.

The protest, organized by Pastor Adeboye, saw members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) across Nigeria participating. The clergyman led the walk himself, starting from Ebute Meta to Atan Cemetery in Yaba, Lagos, and back.

Additionally, our fact-checker conducted a Google search to investigate whether Pastor Adeboye led a protest against Nigerian government during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. The search did not find any direct evidence supporting this claim.

However, a report by Vanguard newspaper dated October 11, 2010, was somewhat related. The report, titled “Kidnapping: RCCG petitions Jonathan…to stage one million-man protest,” detailed the move by Pastor Adeboye to address the spate of insecurity during Jonathan’s administration.

According to the report, the RCCG began collecting signatures nationwide for a proposed one million-man protest rally to raise awareness about declining security standards in Nigeria.

The petition was reportedly sent to then President Goodluck Jonathan. However, FactCheckHub’s findings confirmed that the proposed one-million-man protest ultimately did not take place.

 

THE VERDICT

The claim that an image  shows Pastor Adeboye protesting against Nigerian government during ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration is MISLEADING. The viral photo was originally taken in 2020 during ex-President Buhari’s administration – not under Jonathan’s administration as claimed.

Claim that VeryDarkMan won defamation suit against Falana, Falz is FALSE!

Nurudeen Akewushola
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Claim that VeryDarkMan won defamation suit against Falana, Falz is FALSE!

AN X user, @Teeniiola, has claimed that a social media influencer, Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan on Instagram has won the defamation suit filed against him by prominent Nigerian lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) and his son, Folarin Falana, popularly called Falz.

The X user posted the claim (now-deleted) with a caption thus:

“Breaking: VeryDarkMan won the case against Falana and Falz in court today.”

The claim has been circulated widely online.

 

VeryDarkMan vs Falana’s saga 

VeryDarkMan had posted on his Instagram page a leaked audio clip of Bobrisky, in which the cross-dresser allegedly implicated Falz and his father.

In the audio clip, Bobrisky, whose real name is Idris Okuneye, alleged that while he was imprisoned at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, Falz and his father contacted him to facilitate a “presidential pardon” for a fee of N10 million.

READ: No! Court did not order VeryDarkMan to pay N500m fine over defamation

Falana, during his appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today, denied ever contacting or knowing Bobrisky. He also refuted the N10 million deal allegation, stating that he had secured pardons for numerous convicts without any charges.

He further indicated that he would not pursue criminal charges against VeryDarkMan based on his principle that free speech should never be criminalized but initiated civil proceedings to restore his and his son’s integrity and reputation. He noted that he had requested an apology and retraction from VeryDarkMan, which the influencer failed to provide.

The senior advocate then proceeded to sue VeryDarkMan via an ex-parte originating application on October 9, 2024. Ex-parte applications are heard by courts without the adverse parties and their lawyers.

In the ex parte application, heard by a judge on October 10, 2024, Falana sought various preemptive orders against VeryDarkMan ahead of the hearing of the substantive suit. He also sought an order to serve VeryDarkMan through substituted means by serving the suit on his lawyer.

Following Falana’s suit, the Lagos State High Court ordered the controversial social media influencer to remove defamatory comments and videos concerning the lawyer and human rights activist.

M. O. Dawodu delivered the ruling in suit no: ID/8584/GCM/2024 on October 14, 2024. According to him, VeryDarkMan’s publications on his social media accounts on September 24, 2024, linking Bobrisky to Falz and his father were defamatory and injurious to their public image.

ALSO READ: Bobrisky has NOT been sentenced to 2 years imprisonment!

The court also restrained him from further releasing, publishing, or circulating any defamatory videos or comments about the Falanas.

However, VeryDarkMan, in two separate motions on notice obtained sought an order from the court to extend the time to seek leave to appeal the court’s ruling.

 

CLAIM

VeryDarkMan has won defamation suit filed against him by Falana and Falz.

 

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim that VeryDarkMan has won the case is FALSE.

A review of recent credible media reports regarding the case shows that an Ikeja High Court reserved January 23, 2025 to hear the alleged defamation suit filed against the controversial influencer.

When the case was called on Thursday, November 14, 2024 counsel to Falana and Falz, Muiz Banire, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, informed the court that the claimants had filed the originating process and served to the parties.

Banire also said a motion on notice was served on October 25 but Justice Matthias Dawodu said the originating process was not before the court.

The claimant’s counsel, however, prayed the court to adjourn the case to enable him file administrative processes.

In his response, counsel to VDM, Marvin Omorogbe, said it had been observed that there was no valid writ of summons before the court and prayed the court to strike out the lawsuit.

Omorogbe said he did not know how the court registry would prepare any administrative process opining that the writ already filed was invalid as it was not before the court.

He argued that the defendants improperly used the same suit number for a new writ as the preemptive remedy proceedings, which he stated requires a fresh suit number. He requested a date to hear his preliminary objection and asked the court to withdraw a motion from October 18, viewing it as an appeal attempt based on procedural admissions.

With no opposition, Justice Dawodu struck out the motion and scheduled a hearing for January 23, 2025.

DON’T MISS THIS: Can a Nigerian-trained lawyer practice outside the country?

In a related case, the court postponed proceedings involving Falz and VDM, who had been previously ordered on October 14 to remove a defamatory video and an audio recording of Bobrisky’s accusations against Falana and his son.

This means that the legal battle is still ongoing and yet to be concluded or won by VeryDarkMan contrary to the social media user’s claim.

 

THE VERDICT

The claim that VeryDarkMan has won the defamation suit filed against him by Falana and Falz is FALSE; findings show that the case is ongoing, with the next hearing scheduled for January 23, 2025.

LIVE-CHECK: Ondo 2024 governorship election kicks off

FactCheckHub
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LIVE-CHECK: Ondo 2024 governorship election kicks off

By Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition.

The Ondo State 2024 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 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.

LISTEN (PODCAST): How voters can avoid falling victims to election misinformation

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. Kindly scroll downward to read them.

Here are the fact-checks:

Claim 1

CLAIM: In a campaign tweet, an X user, @KolaDemolaHQ, claimed that Ondo state contributes 12 per cent of Nigeria’s oil and gas.

THE FINDINGS: According to the 2023 annual report by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Ondo State’s crude oil/condensate production was 12,203,686 barrels. Its gas production was 36,558,160 Mscf, contributing approximately 3.36% to Nigeria’s total crude oil/condensate production of 363,381,639 barrels. Consequently, Ondo State contributes 1.92% to the nation’s total gas production of 1,905,828,426 Mscf in 2023.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCE: Annual report of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

 

Claim 2

CLAIM:  According to Egalitarian Voice Media and Enterprises, PDP deputy governorship candidate Mr Festus Akingbaso claimed that thugs invaded Idanre Local Government Area during the ongoing governorship election.

THE FINDINGS: An Arise news report published on Nov. 13, 2024, claimed that thugs had invaded Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State, causing mayhem in the neighbourhood. The state police commissioner, Abayomi Oladipo, has ordered an immediate investigation.

However, reacting to the allegation that thugs again invaded Idanre LGA on election day, Odunlami Ibukun, Police Public Relations Officer, Ondo State Police Command, said she was unaware of the attack and that there were police officers on the ground — Idanre LGA. She added that they were instructed to report any attack. She said: “So far, we have not received any report, but we will investigate the matter.”

VERDICT: UNPROVEN

SOURCE: Odunlami Ibukun (Ondo state police PRO).

 

Claim 3

CLAIM:  An X user, @Jersada94, claimed that the Ilaje local government has the second-highest number of voters in Ondo State.

THE FINDINGS: According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the latest upload of the voters’ register list for the Ondo gubernatorial election 2024, as seen on the website, shows that Akure has 314,709 registered voters, followed by Ilaje with 146,426 and Owo with 143,751, respectively.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCE: INEC

 

Claim 4

CLAIM: An X user, @Naijassador, has claimed that 1.7 million registered voters will elect a new governor in today’s Ondo State election.

THE FINDINGS: According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 2,053,061 voters registered for the elections in Ondo State while 1,757,205 have collected their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) and are eligible to vote.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCE: INEC

 

Claim 5

CLAIM: A TikTok user, @brodabanter_backup_page, has claimed that three governorship candidates have withdrawn their candidacy for Aiyedatiwa.

THE FINDINGS: The NFC found credible news reports from November 14 corroborating the claim. Ebenezer Adeniyan, the chief press secretary (CPS) to the Ondo governor, Aiyedatiwa, confirmed that the candidates had backed the governor. The candidates are Ajibola Falaye of the Accord Party (AP), Jenyo Ataunoko of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), and Olaide Ibrahim, the deputy candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCES: The Cable and The Guardian.

 

Claim 6

CLAIM: An X user, @TheoAbuAgada has claimed that the Labour Party (LP) is not included in  Ondo governorship election ballot paper.

THE FINDINGS: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ondo confirmed that the Labour Party (LP) was captured on the ballot in the ongoing governorship election in the state.  All political parties that field candidates for the poll verified and confirmed the inclusion of their correct logos ahead of today’s election. Also, Alex Ehime, a journalist with the ICIR who is monitoring the election in Ondo State, after visiting a polling unit, confirmed that LP is on the ballot.  However,  INEC yesterday in compliance with a court order, restored Olorunfemi Ayodele Festus as LP candidate for the Ondo state governorship poll. He replaced Olusola Ebiseni.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCES:  INEC Ondo, Mildrate Okay (a voter in Ondo poll), Alex Ehime (ICIR journalist) and a copy of the 2024 Ondo governorship ballot.

 

Claim 7

CLAIM: An X user claimed there were incidents of vote buying in Owo, Ondo state.

THE FINDINGS:  A report by BBC Pidgin confirmed the video was captured at Unit 016 Ahmadiyya Grammar School, Owo.

A Keyframe analysis on INVID also shows that the video is recent on the internet. The NFC spoke with Fidelis David, an observer for TheCable, who explained that the language spoken in the video is Owo dialect. Mr David who was in Owo early this morning said although he didn’t see when cash was exchanged physically, he noticed that voters were displaying their ticked ballot papers to some set of persons across the field. He said they were probably doing that for the money promised.

Also, Ayodele Oluwafemi, another TheCable observer in Kiribo Ese-Odo LGA told the NFC that while he could not see voters given cash physically, he observed that voters were given a piece of paper after they had voted which they’ll use to collect money later on.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCES: Independent Observers, INVID, BBC Pidgin

 

Claim 8

CLAIM: Twitter user @AnthonyEhilebo, posted a video with the claim that APC is snatching ballot boxes in Ondo state 

THE FINDINGS: The video caption claims the incident occurred in Idanre. Physical observation and language spoken in the video situate it in Ondo. Reverse image searches of the screenshots from the video yielded no result, indicating that the video is likely recent and related to the Ondo election.

Odunlami Ibukun, Police Public Relations Officer, Ondo State Police Command confirmed that there were reports of thugs disrupting voting and snatching ballot boxes in Idanre LGA.  “I have not seen the video, but I can confirm that we received reports of such an incident in Idanre, but it has been taken care of. The military helped to bring the situation under control,” Ibukun said.

VERDICT: INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

SOURCES: Reverse Image Search, Odunlami Ibukun (Ondo state police PRO)

 

Claim 9

CLAIM: An X user, @JBAdamu, claimed that 34,000 police officers were deployed for the Ondo election.

THE FINDINGS: During an interview with Channels TV, the deputy inspector-general of police (DIG) coordinating election security, Abiodun Alabi, disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force deployed 34,000 police officers for Saturday’s off-cycle gubernatorial election in Ondo State.

VERDICT: CORRECT 

SOURCES: TheCable, Channels TV

 

Claim 10

CLAIM: A Facebook user, Gbenga Fasole Ilutitun, claimed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) result in the recently concluded Ondo governorship election is the worst the party ever experienced in the state.

THE FINDINGS: Using available data, the claim is accurate. In the November 16, 2024, governorship election, the APC won in all 18 LGAs after securing 366,781 votes, which is equivalent to about 70% (366,791) of the actual votes cast, leaving the PDP with only 23% (117,845).

In previous elections, the PDP had performed fairly better than this. In the 2020 election, the APC candidate got 51.1% (292,830) of the actual votes, with the PDP candidate trailing behind with 34.2% (195,791) after the latter won in three LGAs. In 2016, PDP got 27.28% (150, 380) to APC’s 44.41% (244,842), securing victory in two LGAs, while in 2012, PDP got 24.97% (155, 961) to LP’s 41.75% (260,199). The PDP candidate emerged as the winner in 2003 and 2007, though the PDP candidate in 2007 was later sacked via a court order. The party was formed in 1998.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCES: Stears, Vanguard, PulseNG etc.

 

MUST READS:

 

Nigerian Fact-checkers' Coalition

*This fact-check report was jointly researched and written by members of the Nigerian Fact-Checkers’ Coalition (NFC): Nurudeen Akewushola, Muritala Abdullahi, Fatimah Quadri (FactCheckHub); Elizabeth Ogunbamowo, Cole Praise, Lateef Sanni, Lademi Aborisade, Philip Anjorin, Silas Jonathan, Sunday Awosoro, Mohammed Taoheed, Asiat Jimoh (Dubawa); Catherine Adeniyi, Motunrayo Joel, Allwell Okpi, Adelola Semilore, Denzel Amobi, Muktar Balogun and Precious Ewuji (Africa Check); Caleb Ijioma, Balogun Abosede Mufutiat, Quadri Yahya, Agbelusi Samuel (RoundCheck); Orji Ruth (NatureFacts); Claire Mom (The Cable); Faruk Shuaibu (Daily Trust); Kamal Idress (WikkiTimes); Hannah Ajakaiye, Victor Odion, Efemena Ighofose (FactsMatterNG); Pascal Ibe, Adisa-Jaji Azeez, Salihu Shola Taofeek and Blessing Otoibhi (ICIR); and Rosemary Ajayi (Digital Africa Research Lab).

It was edited and approved for publication by Simbiat Bakare, Lois Ugbede (Dubawa), David Ajikobi (Africa Check), Ajibola Amzat (CCIJ), and Opeyemi Kehinde (FactCheckHub) and Bamas Victoria (ICIR).

Pre-election checks ahead of Saturday’s Ondo 2024 guber poll

FactCheckHub
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Pre-election checks ahead of Saturday’s Ondo 2024 guber poll

By Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition.

VOTERS in Ondo State go to the poll tomorrow to elect their governor amidst surge in information ecosystem about the state’s 2024 Governorship Election.

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 Abuja and Lagos, to debunk election-related misinformation and disinformation content targeted at causing voter apathy, inciting violence or influencing the outcome of election in the state.

READ: Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition vows to tackle misinformation during Ondo 2024 election

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

Reach the NFC via WhatsApp here.

Look out for our Election Day LIVE-CHECKS tomorrow.

This page is constantly being updated with verified checks. Kindly scroll downward to read them.

Here are the fact-checks:

Claim 1

CLAIM: An X user, @AsEdeyhappen001, recently shared a video claiming to show an elderly woman chasing APC members with a cutlass during an APC election campaign in Ondo state. The post added the tag #asedeyhappen, meaning— as it is currently happening.

THE FINDINGS: A reverse image search of keyframes in the video shows it has been shared across multiple social media platforms with the same narrative, with the earliest appearing yesterday, November 14, 2024. However, the video lacks clear context, such as location or campaign details, making the claim unverifiable.

VERDICT: UNPROVEN

SOURCES: OSINT, Google Lens

 

Claim 2

CLAIM: A Facebook page, EIEtv, has claimed that the Court of Appeal in Abuja has removed Olusola Ebiseni as the Labour Party’s candidate in the upcoming Ondo State governorship election.

THE FINDINGS: The NFC found several news reports from November 13, 2024 stating that the Court of Appeal had disqualified Ebiseni, despite the Federal High Court of Abuja ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise him as the Labour Party’s (LP) candidate.

The LP has, however, called the disqualification of its candidate a lie.  Ebiseni, during an interview on Channels Television, says the governorship race is between his party and the All Progressives Congress (APC), suggesting his candidacy.

However, in an updated list of candidates published by the INEC, the LP’s candidates’ names are marked in red with the remark “Court Order.”

Tope Akanmu, the Assistant Director of Voters’ Education for INEC in Ondo State, refused to comment on whether Ebiseni remains the party’s flagbearer saying “it’s a judiciary matter.” However, he noted that the ballot paper carries logos of political parties involved, including LP, thus indicating that the party remains part of the governorship race.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCES: Daily Trust, PUNCH and INEC

 

Claim 3

CLAIM: An X handle, @ONDO4LUCKY, claimed that over 2 million voters in Ondo state will decide who becomes their next governor.

THE FINDINGS: The NFC found multiple media reports quoting Ms Oluwatoyin Babalola, the chairperson of Ondo state’s Resident Electoral Commission (REC), stating that 2,053,061 registered voters would participate in the Ondo governorship poll.

The State REC disclosed this at the Commission’s Headquarters in Akure on Oct. 5, 2024, during the election preparations.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCES: PUNCH and Daily Trust

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST: How voters can avoid falling victims to election misinformation

 

Claim 4

 

 

MUST READS:

 

Nigerian Fact-checkers' Coalition

*This fact-check report was jointly researched and written by members of the Nigerian Fact-Checkers’ Coalition (NFC): Nurudeen Akewushola, Muritala Abdullahi, Fatimah Quadri (FactCheckHub); Elizabeth Ogunbamowo, Cole Praise, Lateef Sanni, Lademi Aborisade, Philip Anjorin, Silas Jonathan, Sunday Awosoro, Mohammed Taoheed, Asiat Jimoh (Dubawa); Catherine Adeniyi, Motunrayo Joel, Allwell Okpi, Adelola Semilore, Denzel Amobi, Muktar Balogun and Precious Ewuji (Africa Check); Caleb Ijioma, Balogun Abosede Mufutiat, Quadri Yahya, Agbelusi Samuel (RoundCheck); Orji Ruth (NatureFacts); Claire Mom (The Cable); Faruk Shuaibu (Daily Trust); Kamal Idress (WikkiTimes); Hannah Ajakaiye, Victor Odion, Efemena Ighofose (FactsMatterNG); Pascal Ibe, Adisa-Jaji Azeez, Salihu Shola Taofeek and Blessing Otoibhi (ICIR); and Rosemary Ajayi (Digital Africa Research Lab).

It was edited and approved for publication by Simbiat Bakare, Lois Ugbede (Dubawa), David Ajikobi (Africa Check), Ajibola Amzat (CCIJ), and Opeyemi Kehinde (FactCheckHub) and Bamas Victoria (ICIR).

Doctored image of Peter Obi with MC Oluomo circulates online

Fatimah Quadri
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0
Doctored image of Peter Obi with MC Oluomo circulates online

AN image of Peter Obi with Musiliu Akinsanya popularly called MC Oluomo has been circulating online alongside a claim that the duo took the photo when Obi paid a congratulatory visit to the new national president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

The claim, shared in a photo post by an X user @goziconc, read:

Breaking: Peter Obi pays homage to Oluomo, vows to work with him as the new NURTW National President!

READ: Photo does not show Obi inside train in Lagos with Sanwo-Olu

Since the post was made on November 12, 2024, it has garnered over 300,000 views, with more than 2,000 likes, over 700 comments and over 300 reposts.

MC Oluomo, a former chairman of the Lagos chapter of the NURTW, emerged as the new president of the transport workers union on November 9, 2024. He was however sworn-in into office on Monday, TheCable reported.

Where as, Obi, who was a former governor of Anambra State, was the Labour Party’s flagbearer in Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election.

 

CLAIM

Image shows Obi with MC Oluomo during congratulatory visit over NURTW presidency.

 

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING!

Our fact-checker noticed that there were unusual distorted proportions when observing the image which is common with multiple manipulated images The FactCheckHub had previously debunked.

Original Image of MC Oluomo that was manipulated.
Original image of MC Oluomo that was manipulated.

When our fact-checker conducted a Google reverse image search on the image, results show a solo image of MC Oluomo in the same outfit which he wore on the day he resumed office as the NURTW president.

Additionally, no credible media outlet had reported the news of Obi’s visit to MC Oluomo.

Our fact-checker notes that it is typical of Obi to write congratulatory messages to any individual/organisation he is extending wishes to via his official X handle.

ALSO READ: No! Photo does not show Rivers’ INEC Commissioner wearing Tinubu’s cap

She also observed that there were no congratulatory messages to MC Oluomo as at the time of filing this report.

 

THE VERDICT

The claim that the image shows Obi with MC Oluomo during a congratulatory visit over NURTW presidency is MISLEADING; the image has been manipulated.

Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition vows to tackle misinformation during Ondo 2024 election

Muritala Abdullahi
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Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition vows to tackle misinformation during Ondo 2024 election

The Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition (NFC) has opened its Election Situation Rooms to monitor and tackle misinformation and disinformation in Saturday’s Ondo State Governorship Election.

A statement signed by the NFC Coordinator, Opeyemi Kehinde, on Wednesday in Abuja noted that the coalition’s situation rooms in Abuja and Lagos will respond rapidly to monitor and debunk false information spreading about the election, especially on online platforms.

Recall that the coalition launched in June 2022 includes three International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) signatories – FactCheckHub, Africa Check and Dubawa. Other partners are the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Digital Africa Research Lab, Daily Trust, TheCable, Premium Times, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), FactsMatterNG and Round Check.

READ: 2023 Elections – Nigerian fact-checkers unveil situation rooms in Lagos, Abuja

Also recall that the NFC debunked dozens of false information about Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, including Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi and Edo off-cycle governorship elections leveraging effective collaboration among researchers, fact-checkers, editors, data analysts, and social media specialists to curb the fake news menace and support election integrity in the country.

The coalition’s model has been adopted in other countries including Kenya, Senegal, Liberia and South Africa and ahead of the December elections in Ghana.

Speaking on the coalition’s efforts, the NFC coordinator said: “We fully support any democratic process that respects the will of the people in the society. That is why we are working assiduously alongside our partners and relevant stakeholders to support information integrity in the Ondo 2024 gubernatorial election and to curb the menace of ‘fake news’ during the poll.”

Kehinde, who is also the Editor of the FactCheckHub, added: “We’ve deployed our combined team of researchers, social media analysts and fact-checkers to monitor information trends on TVs, radio and online platforms, including social media platforms to quickly identify and debunk claims spreading online and offline.

“Our team will also be publishing a comprehensive analysis of our coverage of Edo and Ondo 2024 governorship elections immediately after the poll. The analysis detailed misinformation patterns observed during the elections. Utilising fact-checking data, the report identifies prevalent misinformation themes, examines their distribution across major social media platforms, highlights the persistence of false and misleading claims post-verification and reveals potential gaps in content moderation, especially during critical events such as election etc.

“Based on these insights, this report offers targeted recommendations to enhance real-time monitoring, improve platform collaboration, and foster public resilience against misinformation.”

Also commenting, DUBAWA Nigeria Editor, Kemi Busari, said: “We continue to see the influence of false information on elections and we are not resting on our oars. We’ll go all out to combat misinformation and disinformation that threatens our democracy.”

He encouraged members of the public to send any suspicious post, images or video that they want verified regarding the Ondo Election to the coalition’s WhatsApp number: +2349030785265.

Similarly, the Nigeria Editor of Africa Check, David Ajikobi, said “this is our contribution to making sure the electorate and people in the state are equipped with accurate information to help them make informed decisions.”

Fact-checking Ajayi’s claims at the Ondo 2024 gubernatorial debate

Fatimah Quadri
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Fact-checking Ajayi’s claims at the Ondo 2024 gubernatorial debate

AT a debate organised by Channels TV on Sunday, November 3, 2024, the two leading Ondo State gubernatorial candidates spoke about their plans for the state if elected in the off-season November 16 governorship poll.

The debate, moderated by Seun Okinbaloye, a broadcast journalist and Politics Today’s anchor on Channels TV, include discussions on the state of economy, security, education, infrastructure, health and poverty eradication etc in the state.

The gubernatorial candidates present at the debate are Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who is the sitting Ondo governor and Agboola Ajayi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

READ: Fact-checking three Lagos gubernatorial candidates at ‘The Platform’ debate

The FactCheckHub verify the accuracy of the claims made by the PDP candidate, Agboola Ajayi, who was a former deputy governor of the state.

 

CLAIM 1

Ajayi said more than 27 per cent of Ondo state residents are poor.

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MOSTLY TRUE!

The 2022 Multi dimension poverty index released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that Ondo was the least state with poverty at 27 percent followed closely by Lagos and Abia states.

Nairametrics also reported that Ondo state recorded the lowest MPI at 0.095 with only 1.3 million multi-dimensionally poor people in the state.

THE VERDICT

The claim that more than 27 per cent of Ondo state residents are poor is MOSTLY TRUE; the NBS 2022 multidimensional poverty index revealed that 27 per cent of the state residents are poor.

 

CLAIM 2

Ajayi claimed that there are no industries in Ondo state.

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE!

This list by Nigeria Directory shows some of the industries/manufacturing companies in the state.

A keyword search on the words “Industries in Ondo state” provided search results on some industries such as OmoadeCeil Industry, Johnvents Industries limited and Emmver Industries, amongst others.

THE VERDICT

The claim that there are no industries in Ondo state is FALSE; data show that there are multiple industries operating in the state.

 

CLAIM 3

Ajayi said that Ondo state ministry of agriculture has no tractor.

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MOSTLY TRUE!

In September 2024, multiple media platforms such as The Guardian, Punch, and Tribune reported that the Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Olayato Aribo explained that during the late Governor Akeredolu’s administration, 30 tractors were purchased and subsequently sold to companies and individuals at subsidized rates to boost farming in the state.

He further stated that most of these tractors are now outside the state and no longer government-owned, with some sold outrightly and others under installment payment plans while noting that the state retained only one tractor.

ALSO READ: How true are Sanwo-Olu’s claims on Lagos budget performance, education?

He added that, despite this, they still plan to purchase more tractors but will, for now, expedite food production by engaging a tractor hiring company.

THE VERDICT

The claim that the Ondo state ministry of agriculture has no tractor is MOSTLY TRUE; all of the tractors were sold at subsidised rates leaving only one of the tractors in the ministry’s custody.

 

EDITOR’S NOTE

*This report has been updated to reflect new verdict on Claim 1 which was changed to MOSTLY TRUE, as the primary element of the claim is accurate as the NBS data show.

Fact-checking Aiyedatiwa’s claims at the Ondo 2024 gubernatorial debate

Fatimah Quadri
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0
Fact-checking Aiyedatiwa’s claims at the Ondo 2024 gubernatorial debate

AT a debate organised by Channels TV on Sunday, November 3, 2024, the two leading Ondo State gubernatorial candidates spoke about their plans for the state if elected in the off-season November 16 governorship poll.

The debate, moderated by Seun Okinbaloye, a broadcast journalist and Politics Today’s anchor on Channels TV, include discussions on the state of economy, security, education, infrastructure, health and poverty eradication etc in the state.

The gubernatorial candidates present at the debate are Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who is the sitting Ondo governor and Agboola Ajayi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

READ: Fact-checking three Lagos gubernatorial candidates at ‘The Platform’ debate

In this fact-check, The FactCheckHub looks at some of the claims made by Lucky Aiyedatiwa at the debate.

 

CLAIM 1

Aiyedatiwa said the 2024 edition of the Global Entrepreneur Festival would be held in Ondo state.

THE FINDINGS

Checks by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is TRUE.

In August 2024, multiple media houses, both local and international reported that the event slated for 22nd to 24th November, 2024, would take place in Ondo State.

ThisDay reports that Ondo State’s Commissioner for Information, Wale Akinlosotu, at a press conference in Lagos said the festival’s theme, “Beyond Boundaries: Poverty Eradication through Entrepreneurship,” strongly reflects the state’s mission.

THE VERDICT

The claim that the 2024 edition of the Global Entrepreneur Festival would be held in Ondo state is TRUE, as it was reported by multiple media platforms few months ago.

 

CLAIM 2 

Ondo state is the second least state in terms of poverty in Nigeria.

THE FINDING

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MOSTLY TRUE!

The 2022 Multidimensional poverty index released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that Ondo was the least state with poverty at 27 percent followed closely by Lagos and Abia states.

Nairametrics also reported that Ondo state recorded the lowest MPI nationally at 0.095 with only 1.3 million multi-dimensionally poor people in the state.

THE VERDICT

The claim that Ondo state is the second least state in terms of poverty in Nigeria is MOSTLY TRUE; Ondo state is actually the state with the lowest poverty index in Nigeria, according to the 2022 Multidimensional poverty index.

 

CLAIM 3

Cocoa processing factory in Ondo state processes 7,000 tonnes of cocoa every month.

THE FINDINGS 

Findings by The FactCheckHub indicate that the claim is UNPROVEN!

An investigation by CrossRiver Watch shows that The Sunshine Chocolate Factory in Idanre, launched in 2020 by the state government as a government initiative was eventually bought by a private individual, Johnvents Industries after it went desolate some months later.

TheCable and Vanguard report that the late governor of the state, Rotimi Akeredolu, commissioned the factory in 2021.

DON’T MISS THIS: Video does not show Ondo governor caught with ‘side chick’ in London

A 2022 report by ThisDay notes that the factory had processed about 5,000 metric tonnes of cocoa for export, barely six months after its launch.

THE VERDICT

The claim that the cocoa processing factory in Ondo state processes 7,000 tonnes of cocoa every month is UNPROVEN, as there is insufficient evidence to debunk or substantiate the claim.

 

CLAIM 4

In response to Agboola’s claim of being in the NDDC for several years, Aiyedatiwa stated that he too was in the NDDC for seven months.

THE FINDINGS 

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MOSTLY TRUE!

Records show that Aiyedatiwa was a board member representing Ondo state in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) from 2018 to 2019 but the particular months were not stated.

THE VERDICT

The claim that Aiyedatiwa was in the NDDC for seven months is MOSTLY TRUE, according to the Ondo State government’s records.

 

EDITOR’S NOTE

*This report has been updated to reflect new verdict on Claim 4 which was changed to MOSTLY TRUE, as the primary element of the claim is accurate, though it needs additional clarification.

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