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Video of Sudan war falsely presented as footage from Nigeria

Zainab ABDULRASAQ
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Video of Sudan war falsely presented as footage from Nigeria

AN X account, @Guccistarbol, posted a video circulating on social media which claims to show military escalation in Nigeria. The video depicts a vehicle carrying heavy ammunition driving along a deserted road littered with debris and damaged cars.

The post was shared on 18 August 2026, with the caption:

“We used to watch this in movies, now it’s our reality.”

The post has attracted widespread attention online, prompting concerns among social media users about the security situation in Nigeria.

As of 19 August 2026, the post has generated over 970,000 views, 1,300 reposts, and more than 7,500 likes.

The claim also appeared in another post.

READ: From Osun to 2027: How misinformation could deepen ethnic tensions

CLAIM

The video shows a military convoy travelling along a deserted road in Nigeria.

screenshot of the viral post

FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.

The FactCheckHub conducted a reverse image search on keyframes from the video and found that the footage had been published online and is unrelated to Nigeria, as it depicts an incident in Sudan.

The video was previously shared on TikTok by Switch Media Kenya and shows scenes from the ongoing conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Its accompanying caption refers to a war-damaged landscape, abandoned vehicles and spent ammunition casings along roads in conflict-affected parts of Sudan.

The conflict, which began in April 2023 as a power struggle between the SAF and the paramilitary RSF, has since escalated into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

The footage was also shared on Facebook by Eagle Eyes Report, where it was identified as footage from the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

READ ALSO: Video filmed in India falsely presented as Accord Party rally in Osun

However, the video was recycled and presented out of context, creating a false impression of military unrest in Nigeria.

VERDICT

The claim that the video depicts a recent reality in Nigeria is MISLEADING; the footage shows scenes from the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

Governor Adeleke did not ask Davido to delete his tweets about Tinubu or call the APC corrupt

Zainab ABDULRASAQ
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Governor Adeleke did not ask Davido to delete his tweets about Tinubu or call the APC corrupt

A VIRAL post circulating on social media claims that Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, said in an interview that he directed his nephew, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, to delete posts criticising Nigerian president Bola Tinubu and described the ruling party as corrupt.

The post, shared on 17 August 2026, by an X user @glowinvee, claimed that Adeleke made the statement while describing the All Progressives Congress (APC) as corrupt.

The caption reads:

“I told my nephew (Davido) to delete all those tweets he made about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu…. Because although apc as a political party is full of corruption, Tinubu remain the best president this country has ever had and I see him as a Father” — Governor Ademola Adeleke”

The post features a video of Adeleke speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

As of 18 August 2026, the post had garnered more than over 400,000 views, 289 reposts, and over 270 comments.

READ: Video filmed in India falsely presented as Accord Party rally in Osun

CLAIM

Governor Ademola Adeleke stated that he told Davido to delete tweets about president Bola Tinubu and described APC as a corrupt party.

Screenshot of the viral post

FINDINGS

Checks by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.

The FactCheckHub reviewed the full Channels Television interview aired on Sunday Politics on 16 August 2026 and found no evidence that governor Adeleke made such statements.

During the interview, Adeleke discussed his re-election in the 15 August governorship election, his vision for Osun State, and his relationship with Tinubu.

Speaking about the phone call he received from Tinubu, Adeleke said:

“I got a call, he called me because I see him as a father. So he called me and asked what’s going on. And how the election was going. I said your son is cruising to victory, that I’ve won and all that. We just joke about it and everything. And he just told me, oh, congratulations, that democracy is at play. And the next, which he always jokes about anytime he sees me, he said how’s dancing going, I said it’s going very well, and he said he’d come and see me so we can do one or two steps and he laughed.”

When asked about his support for Tinubu, Adeleke clarified that his position was based on regional solidarity rather than secret political agreement or party loyalty:

“I never reached any agreement with the president. My support is just based on he’s a Yoruba man and he’s from southwest, and I believe all the federal roads that he has started. I want to encourage him not to forget southwest too, because all our federal roads link to other regions. And I feel like since a Yoruba man has won the first time, maybe we should give him another chance to develop his reforms.”

READ ALSO: 2024 Ondo video recycled to falsely claim gunfire during Osun election

At no point during the interview did Adeleke mention instructing Davido to delete any tweets, nor did he describe the APC as a “party full of corruption”.

In the same interview, he acknowledged that the APC in Osun State was using ‘federal might’ following the arrest of some Accord Party members but clarified that Tinubu knew nothing about the arrests.

VERDICT

The claim that Adeleke said he asked Davido to delete tweets about Tinubu and described the APC as corrupt is FALSE. The quoted statements are fabricated and do not appear anywhere in Adeleke’s interview with Channels Television.

Image of Zamfara farmers killed in July falsely linked to recent Sokoto attack

Nurudeen Akewushola
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Image of Zamfara farmers killed in July falsely linked to recent Sokoto attack

A VIRAL image showing the bodies of people wrapped in blood-stained clothes has been shared on social media with a claim that it depicts victims of a recent bandit attack in Sokoto State, northwestern Nigeria.

An X user, @musa_kiliya, posted the image on 17 August 2026, with the caption:

“This happened in Kebbe Local Government, Sokoto State. More than 30 people were killed by bandits, some are yet to be identified. 💔😭”

As of 18 August 2026, the post had generated over 200 reposts and more than 300 likes.

CLAIM

Image shows victims of a bandit attack in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State, northwestern Nigeria.

Screenshot of the viral post

FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.

The image surfaced online in August 2026, shortly after a deadly bandit attack in Ungushi community, Kebbe Local Government Area, Sokoto State. Reports said the attack claimed several lives, including that of Imam Aliyu, the chief imam of a Jumu’at mosque.

However, a reverse image search conducted by The FactCheckHub shows the image has been online since 23 July 2026, and it depicts an incident that happened in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria, in July 2026.

The earliest version of the image was posted on X on 23 July by conflict reporter, Idris Muhammed, also known as Idris 4 Peace. He stated that the image showed victims of a bandit attack in Sauna/Ruwan Gora community in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

According to the post, 23 farmers were killed in the attack, while more than 50 people were hospitalised, most of them women and children.

The incident was also reported by Verity News, which used the image as its featured image. Citing local sources, the platform reported that the victims were attacked while farming, adding that most of those injured were women and children who were taken to hospital for treatment. Daily Trust also reported the July attack in Zamfara State, with reports putting the death toll at least 23 farmers.

The FactCheckHub found that the image was not connected to the more recent attack in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The Sokoto attack therefore occurred nearly one month after the Zamfara incident in which the viral image was first circulated.

VERDICT

The claim that the viral image shows victims of the recent bandit attack in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State is MISLEADING. The attack in Sokoto was reported and confirmed by multiple media organisations, but the image being used to depict its victims is from a separate bandit attack in Zamfara State in July 2026.

From Osun to 2027: How misinformation could deepen ethnic tensions

Zainab ABDULRASAQ
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From Osun to 2027: How misinformation could deepen ethnic tensions

The Osun State governorship election has offered a glimpse of the information battles that could define Nigeria’s next electoral cycle. In the days leading up to and during the poll, recycled videos, out-of-context images and fabricated claims circulated online, attempting to shape public perception and create confusion around the election.

As political activities gather pace ahead of the 2027 general elections, similar tactics could become more pronounced. The digital space is already emerging as a key battleground for political narratives, with misinformation and inflammatory content threatening to fuel ethnic tensions, particularly between Igbo and Yoruba communities.

The National Human Rights Commission has warned that hate speech poses a direct threat to democracy and national development ahead of the 2027 elections. The warning comes as the political contest takes shape around major figures including incumbent president Bola Tinubu, a Yoruba indigene and All Progressives Congress candidate; Peter Obi, an Igbo indigene and candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC); and former vice president Atiku Abubakar, a northerner and candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Against this backdrop, the misinformation witnessed during the Osun election may offer an early indication of the challenges that lie ahead, not only in verifying false claims, but also in tracking the narratives, actors and networks that could exploit ethnic and political fault lines as the 2027 campaign gathers momentum.

These concerns are not merely hypothetical. Examples from Nigeria’s digital space show how quickly political tensions can spill into ethnic hostility, with social media users deploying fabricated claims, AI-generated images and recycled videos to portray one ethnic group as a threat to another.

In one instance, a Facebook post by an account named Temmy Okanlomo called on Yoruba people to prepare for what it described as a “South Africa style” takeover of Yorubaland, using an image of South Africans protesting. The post claimed that properties sold to people from other regions remained Yoruba property and could be reclaimed, while calling on Igbo people living in Yorubaland to return to their regions.

In another case, a Facebook post shared an AI-generated image containing a message calling on “every Yibo landlord and their allies in SouthWest” to surrender their house keys to Yoruba people. The post triggered a counter-response from another user, who used derogatory distortions of the names of the Yoruba ethnic group and Tinubu.

Anti-Yoruba narratives have similarly circulated online. Harry Da Diegot, a social media commentator, shared an out-of-context video of a crowd surrounding a car, accompanied by text portraying Yorubas as extortionists and using a distorted form of the ethnic group’s name.

These examples illustrate how recycled and fabricated content can move beyond political misinformation to reinforce ethnic stereotypes and provoke hostility between communities. Findings by The FactCheckHub also indicate that monetisation and engagement-driven incentives on major platforms can amplify hate speech, as creators are financially rewarded for content that attracts attention and interaction.

The FactCheckHub also reported how these actors are many on social media and how they deliberately use disinformation and information manipulation to inflame the ember of tribal hostilities and sow discord between Igbo and Yoruba in Nigeria.

Rejoice Taddy, a disinformation researcher, told The FactCheckHub that the increasingly realistic nature of AI-generated content presents significant challenges for detecting and debunking hate speech.

Olayinka Shehu, a cyber threats and disinformation researcher, noted that while some users may hold genuine prejudices, others deliberately exploit ethnic divisions for political, financial or personal gain because outrage generates high engagement.

Shehu said tackling the trend requires more than conventional awareness campaigns.

“Citizens need stronger media and digital literacy skills to recognise manipulated narratives and question who benefits from viral content, while political actors and influencers who deliberately weaponise ethnic identity should be held accountable,” he said.

Shehu called on social media platforms to move beyond removing individual posts and instead identify repeat offenders and coordinated networks that amplify ethnic incitement. This, he said, requires moderation systems capable of detecting patterns of coordinated behaviour, while retaining human oversight to distinguish between content documenting hate speech and content promoting it.

Video filmed in India falsely presented as Accord Party rally in Osun

Nurudeen Akewushola
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Video filmed in India falsely presented as Accord Party rally in Osun

A VIDEO circulating on social media claims to show a large crowd of supporters of Accord Party’s Ademola Adeleke, mobilising ahead of the recently concluded governorship election in Osun State, southwestern Nigeria.

The video was shared by an X user, @Barrister001 with the caption:

“This is a proof that Osun people really want Omo Adeleke to continue being our Governor. For those of you asking, this is Ile Ife, lagere flyover bridge #osun #adeleke #”

The claim has generated over 500 reposts and more than 3500 reposts.

CLAIM

Video shows a large political rally organised for the Accord Party’s governorship candidate in Osun State.

Screenshot of the viral post

FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.

A keyword search and a reverse image search of keyframes from the footage led to earlier versions of the video, confirming that it was not filmed in Osun State or Nigeria.

The FactCheckHub traced the footage to an event in India using reverse image searches. An earliest version we found was posted on YouTube, on August 10 2026. The same footage was subsequently shared by other Indian social media users including this Facebook account and this YouTube account.

The captions indicated that the video shows a roadshow in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.

There is no identifiable feature in the video linking the crowd to the Accord Party, its candidate or the Osun governorship election. The video contains no party logo, campaign materials, recognisable party officials or location markers indicating that it was filmed in Osun State.

VERDICT

The claim that the viral video shows a political rally organised for the Accord Party’s governorship candidate in Osun State is MISLEADING. Reverse image searches and analysis of the footage’s visual clues indicate that it was recorded at a public gathering in India and is unrelated to the Osun governorship election.

2024 Ondo video recycled to falsely claim gunfire during Osun election

Zainab ABDULRASAQ
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2024 Ondo video recycled to falsely claim gunfire during Osun election

A VIDEO circulating on social media claims that gunshots were being fired during the just-concluded Osun State governorship election.

The claim was posted on X by a verified user, @phillipfayem, with a caption alleging that gunshots were fired during the polling exercise.

“Gun shot during Osun State election.”

The post circulated online with the hashtag #OsunDecides2026.

As of August 17 2026, the post had garnered over 10800 views, 34 reposts, and over 30 comments.

READ: LIVE-CHECK: Osun 2026 governorship election

CLAIM

A video shows gunshots fired during the Osun State governorship election.

screenshot of the viral post

FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.

A keyframe extraction and reverse image search conducted on the video by The FactCheckHub revealed that the footage was old and was not recorded in Osun State.

The clip was originally posted on November 17 2024 by a Facebook account known as KOIKIMEDIA. According to the accompanying caption, the video originally captured an outbreak of violence during the Ondo State governorship election held in the Idanre Local Government Area on November 16 2024.

The old footage was recycled and falsely reshared to create a misleading impression of electoral violence during the Osun State election.

The Osun State governorship election, which was conducted on August 15 2026, was marred by a heated process.

The ICIR reported instances of political clashes at polling stations, vote-buying involving cash incentives across several local government areas, and security irregularities, including allegations that voting materials were carted away in areas such as Modakeke.

Despite all these, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) concluded the electoral process and declared Ademola Adeleke the winner of the Osun State governorship election.

While physical confrontation broke out at polling units in the state, the video in question was unrelated to the election.

VERDICT

The claim that the video shows gunshots being fired during the Osun State governorship election is MISLEADING; the footage is recycled content from the November 2024 Ondo governorship election in Idanre.

Post-election LIVE-CHECK for Osun governorship election 2026

Editorial
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Post-election LIVE-CHECK for Osun governorship election 2026

THE 2026 Osun 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 to debunk election-related misinformation and disinformation content.

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.

CLAIM 1

CLAIM: An X user posted a video (archived here) claiming it shows the reaction of the Accord Party’s Governorship candidate, Ademola Adeleke, after hearing he won.

FINDINGS: The Nigerian Fact-Checking Coalition subjected keyframes of the video to Google Reverse Image Search, and the results show that the video is not recent. Premium Times and Nigerian Tribune posted an earlier version of the video in 2022. The video shows the moment Adeleke was declared the winner of the 2022 Osun Governorship election.

VERDICT: Misleading

SOURCE: Premium Times and Nigerian Tribune

DATE: 16/08/2026

AUTHOR: Nurudeen Akewushola

EDITOR(S): Lois Ugbede & Simbiat Bakare

CLAIM 2

An X user @KafinHausaa shared a photo (archived here) with a claim former Kano State Governor and ex-APC national chairperson Abdullahi Ganduje arrived in Osun State during result collation.

FINDINGS

The Nigerian Fact-Checkers’ Coalition (NFC) traced the image to a 30 March 2023 blog post about Ganduje’s first return to Kano after APC won the state’s governorship election in the same year. The report published the same image alongside two others from his arrival.

A reverse image search also found the photo in a March 30, 2023 Facebook post by Arewa Radio, captioned in Hausa, “Gwamnan Jihar Kano Dakta Abdullahi Umar Ganduje ya dawo Jihar Kano a darennan,” meaning “Kano State Governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje returned to Kano state tonight”.  The image predates the August 15, 2026 Osun governorship election and does not show Ganduje arriving in Osun State.

VERDICT: Misleading

SOURCE: Binhausa News and Arewa Radio(Facebook post)

DATE: 16/08/2026

AUTHOR: Catherine Adeniyi

EDITORS: Lois Ugbede & Bamas Victoria

APPROVED

CLAIM 3

A TikTok user (sanuswzi149) posted a video of an INEC returning officer announcing the election of Ademola Adeleke as governor of Osun State.

FINDINGS

The Nigerian Fact-Checkers’ Coalition (NFC) conducted a Google Lens reverse image search and found that the video is from the 2022 Osun State governorship election. The then state collation officer, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, announced the result. Using keyword search, we found that the 2026 result was announced by Professor Joshua Ogunwole.

Although Adeleke won the 2026 election, the video is from 2022.

VERDICT: MISLEADING

SOURCE: Google Lens and Channels Television

DATE: 16/08/2026

AUTHOR: Muktar Balogun

EDITORS: Lois Ugbede & Simbiat Bakare

LIVE-CHECK: Osun 2026 governorship election

Editorial
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LIVE-CHECK: Osun 2026 governorship election

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

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

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

Share with the NFC via WhatsApp here.

This page is constantly being updated with verified checks.

CLAIM 1

CLAIM: An X user, @Boripe_, claimed (archived here) that APC thugs carted away election materials in Ada, Boripe LGA, Osun State.

FINDINGS

The Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition (NFC) contacted the Osun INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, who said she had not received any report of such an incident. We also contacted the state’s Commissioner of Police in charge of election security, Samuel Etaifo, who said there had been no such report.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCE: Osun INEC REC and Osun CP Election

DATE: 15/08/2026

AUTHOR: Catherine Adeniyi

EDITOR(S): Lois Ugbede & Simbiat Bakare

CLAIM 2

An X user, @abdulmojeed_ola, claimed (archived) that Osun State Governor, Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke, has agreed to collapse his Accord Party structure to support the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salam, in today’s gubernatorial election, Saturday, August 15, 2026.

FINDINGS

The ADC, in a statement earlier today on Saturday, August 15, 2026, debunked the claim. It clarified that the party has not collapsed its structure or entered into any arrangement to support Governor Adeleke or the Accord Party. The ADC also added that Adeleke has not collapsed his structure into the party to support Salam.

A check of the Facebook page of Governor Adeleke’s Imole campaign council showed that it has not yet issued a statement regarding the claim. No reputable news organisation has confirmed this claim to be true at the moment.

VERDICT:  INCORRECT

SOURCE: ADC Press statement

DATE: 15/08/2026

AUTHOR: Pascal Ibe

EDITOR(S) Bamas Victoria & Simbiat Bakare

CLAIM 3

An X user asserts (archived link) that 146 suspected imported thugs were arrested at an Osun lawmaker’s residence.

FINDINGS

According to media outlets, the voters were reportedly carrying newly issued Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and were said to be camped at the residence of Hon. Abiola Ibrahim, a member of the Osun State House of Assembly representing the Irewole-Isokan Constituency.

According to Punch Newspapers, the Osun State Police Command confirmed the arrest of Hon. Abiola Ibrahim in connection with the incident. They also reported that 146 suspects were arrested.

VERDICT:  CORRECT!

SOURCE: Leadership Newspapers, Daily Post, Punch 

DATE:  15/08/2026.

AUTHOR: Lademi Aborisade

EDITOR(S) Bamas Victoria & Simbiat Bakare

CLAIM 4

In a post (archived  here), @PO_GrassRootM wrote: “Osun APC candidate keeps distributing ₦1,000 notes to voters ahead of the election.” Another user, @NNasarawa1, posted the video (archived here)  with the caption: “#RenewedHope How Cash Is Allegedly Being Distributed Ahead of the Osun State Governorship Election.”

FINDINGS

The video, in circulation since August 13, 2026, shows a man wearing an AMBO campaign T-shirt handing N1,000 notes to a group of women. AMBO is the campaign name of Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, the APC governorship candidate. 

Punch reported on the same video on August 13, two days before the election, noting that the development came as the APC held a mega rally in Osogbo, the state capital, in support of its governorship candidate.

VERDICT: CORRECT.

SOURCE: Punch Newspapers, Researcher Observation 

CLAIM 5

An X user, @mayegun180l5, claimed (archived) that Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, demanded the removal of the Commissioner of Police (CP) for the 2026 governorship election, Samuel Erale, after casting his vote on Saturday, August 15, 2026.

FINDINGS

NFC watched the coverage video of Governor Adeleke speaking after casting his vote but found no instance in which he called for the removal of the CP Election, Osun State, Samuel Erale.

In the video, Adeleke alleged that a police officer identified as “London” from Port Harcourt had been brought into Osun State to cause unrest and disrupt voting, particularly in his hometown, Ede.

The governor called on the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies to remain vigilant and investigate the allegation.

However, the Osun Government had previously called for the removal of CP Ibrahim Gotan, who was the Commissioner of Police of the Osun State Command before the election. 

Premium Times reported that, following concerns raised by the state government and political parties over Gotan’s neutrality,  Samuel Erale was deployed to Osun as CP Election ahead of the governorship poll.

VERDICT: INCORRECT 

SOURCE: NTA, DailyTrust, TheICIR , Premium Times.

DATE: 15/08/2026

AUTHOR: Pascal Ibe 

EDITOR(S) Bamas Victoria & Simbiat Bakare

CLAIM 6

An X user, @DebbySimon69, claimed (archived here) that 17 governors of the All Progressives Congress, 7 ministers, and 30 senators are in Osun to rig the election.

FINDINGS

Media reports indicate that several APC governors and senators arrived in Osun State ahead of Election Day to support the party’s governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, during the final phase of the campaign. Those reported to be in the state include Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodinma; Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo; Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, among others.

However, footage from the APC rally held on Thursday, August 13 and media reports do not support the claim that 17 APC governors, seven ministers and 30 senators were in the state to rig the governorship election. The available reports and footage show that the number of political office holders present was significantly lower than the figures claimed and there is no evidence indicating their presence was to rig the election.

VERDICT: UNPROVEN

SOURCES: TVC, Punch newspaper

DATE: August 15, 2026.

AUTHOR: Nurudeen Akewushola

EDITOR(S): LOIS UGBEDE, OPEYEMI KEHINDE, MOTUNRAYO JOEL

CLAIM 7

Several X users have claimed that the APC distributed cash ahead of the Osun State governorship election while sharing the same video.

In a post (archived  here), @PO_GrassRootM wrote: “Osun APC candidate keeps distributing ₦1,000 notes to voters ahead of the election.” Another user, @NNasarawa1, posted the video (archived here)  with the caption: “#RenewedHope How Cash Is Allegedly Being Distributed Ahead of the Osun State Governorship Election.”

FINDINGS: The video, in circulation since August 13, 2026, shows a man wearing an AMBO campaign T-shirt handing N1,000 notes to a group of women. AMBO is the campaign name of Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, the APC governorship candidate.

Punch reported on the same video on August 13, two days before the election, noting that the development came as the APC held a mega rally in Osogbo, the state capital, in support of its governorship candidate.

VERDICT: CORRECT.

SOURCE: Punch Newspapers, Researcher Observation

DATE: August 15, 2026.

FACT CHECK AUTHOR: Blessing Muonwe

EDITORS: Bamas Victoria & Simbiat Bakare

CLAIM 8

CLAIM: A video circulating on social media shows voters alleging that police officers stormed a Registration Area Centre (RAC) in Modakeke, Ife East LGA, in Osun State, fired tear gas, disrupted the distribution of election materials, and allegedly carted away election materials.

FINDINGS: The Sun, Sahara Reporters and Tell Magazine shared the same video and reported the alleged incident.

A Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID) observer, God’s Gift Akowe Hope, deployed to Ife East, confirmed the video was recorded at Urban Day Grammar School, Modakeke, Ife East LGA. However, she said she did not witness the alleged incident when she arrived at the location.

The NFC contacted the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abiodun Ojelabi, who said one of the police officers deployed to the centre accidentally discharged tear gas. He added that the officer had been identified and apprehended to explain why he did so. Ojelabi also noted that no election materials were taken away by the police officers at the scene.

VERDICT: PARTLY CORRECT
DATE: August 15, 2026
SOURCES: CJID Observer, Osun Police spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, The Sun, Sahara Reporters and TELL magazine

FACT CHECK AUTHOR: Muktar Balogun

EDITORS: LOIS UGBEDE, OPEYEMI KEHINDE AND MOTUNRAYO JOEL

CLAIM 9

CLAIM: An X user @salawueedris1 claimed (archived here) the police released a video of  33 “imported voters” from Ekiti and Ondo states arrested at Babs Hotel Ede.

FINDINGS:

The Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, told the Nigerian Fact-Checkers’ Coalition that 33 people were arrested in Babs Hotel, Ede: 30 men and three women, for being brought in to vote.

He said they are still being interrogated, and many of them did not know who recruited them. While the Police said they could not confirm if the circulating video is genuine, a reverse image search led to a news report by Leadership newspaper.  Leadership, with an image which bears similarities to the video, reported that the police said the suspects were brought in from Ondo State for unlawful electoral activities.

VERDICT: PARTLY CORRECT
SOURCE: Osun PPRO and Leadership Newspaper

DATE: 15/08/2026
FACT CHECK AUTHOR: Catherine Adeniyi

EDITOR(S): Lois Ugbede and Simbiat Bakare

CLAIM 10

Several X users, including @Onsogbu, @RealFikayomi66, and @RajiDraj, shared posts  here, here, and here on August 14, 2026, claiming that the police arrested a fake party agent, a fake collation agent, and two election observers in Ila Orangun who were recruited by the Accord Party.

FINDINGS

The posts were shared on Osun Guber election eve, August 14, 2026.

The INEC Manual for Election Officials states that collation officers and election observers are deployed and perform their election-related duties only on election day.

Therefore, the claim that individuals were arrested on election eve “posing as fake collation agents or election observers” raises questions of procedural inconsistency, as these roles would not yet have been operational in the field.

The video attached to the posts shows a crowd, police personnel, and some persons being taken away in vans. However, the location does not appear to be a polling unit or voting centre.

Nothing in the video identifies those arrested as fake collation agents or election observers, nor does it establish any connection between them and Accord Party.

In addition, no credible outlet has reported the incident as of the time of this publication.

VERDICT: Misleading.

SOURCE: INEC electoral guidelines, X pages

DATE: August 15, 2026.

FACT CHECK AUTHOR: Blessing Muonwe

EDITOR(S) Bamas Victoria & Ajibola Amzat

CLAIM 11

On WhatsApp, Nigerians are sharing what they claim is a giveaway opportunity of N100,000 by Afrobeats singer David Adeleke (Davido) amid the ongoing Osun State governorship election, where his uncle, Ademola Adeleke, is seeking re-election.

FINDINGS: Davido was actively involved in Governor Adeleke’s re-election campaign, having been appointed chairman of youth mobilisation for the campaign council and publicly campaigned for his uncle. However, there is no credible evidence that Davido or Governor Adeleke announced a N100,000 cash grant for every Nigerian. The NFC found no record of such on the singer’s verified social media pages.

When checked, the NFC found that the link attached to the claim led to a suspicious website asking for the user’s account number and instructed them to share the link with five WhatsApp groups or 15 people on WhatsApp. According to the NFC, such engagement bait is a common feature of phishing scams targeting vulnerable Nigerians.

Section 121 (1)(a) of Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2022 criminalises the act of offering money or gifts to influence a voter or candidate.

VERDICT: INCORRECT
SOURCES: David Adeleke, FBI.gov website, NFC researcher
DATE: 15 August 2026

AUTHOR: Muktar Balogun

EDITORS: OPEYEMI KEHINDE and MOTUNRAYO JOEL

CLAIM 12

CLAIM: An X user, @SaliuAminu0001, claimed (archived here) that the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji, has won the state’s election.

FINDINGS

Recent updates from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) indicate that sorting and counting of votes are ongoing in various polling units across the state. NFC also checked the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal and found that about 2266  results, representing 60.22%, have been uploaded out of 3,763 expected results as at 6:10 PM.

Screenshot of the IReV portal showing that results are still being uploaded.

Vanguard newspaper and Channels TV have also reported that sorting and counting of ballots in the ongoing Osun State gubernatorial election are ongoing.

However, neither INEC nor reputable news outlets have announced the winner of the Osun State election.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCES: INEC, Vanguard newspaper, Channels TV

DATE: August 15, 2026

EDITORS: Ajibola Amzat

AUTHOR: Cole Praise

CLAIM 13

An X user, @O_basslet (archived here) has posted a video alongside a claim that Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)  officials led thugs to attack Accord party agents in Ward 4, Unit 4 in Ikire, Irewole LGA of Osun State.

FINDINGS

Analysis of the audio-visual attached to the post revealed that individuals present said a popular person known as Abass led the group to attack them, rather than NSCDC officials.

A reverse image search of keyframes from the video by our researchers returned no data of the video online.

The Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition (NFC) reached out to the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, to confirm if there’s any disruption in Ward 4, Unit 4 of Ikire town in the state. Ojelabi said there was no chaos in polling wards and units with the tag 4. He also noted that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ikire town has been securing the Ward 4 in the town.

The coalition also reached out to the spokesperson for the NSCDC, Kehinde Adeleke, who debunked the claim, stating that nothing of such happened or was heard. She also mentioned that she had been going round some polling units to see to it that the election goes smoothly. Residents in Irepodun and Irewole local government areas also confirmed no chaos in the units.

VERDICT: MISLEADING

SOURCES: NSCDC, Osun Police, Residents

DATE: August 15, 2026.

EDITORS:

AUTHOR: Zainab Abdulrasaq

CLAIM 14

A WhatsApp user forwarded a text post (screenshot below) alleging that former Osun governors, Baba (Bisi) Akande and (Olagunsoye) Oyinlola were defeated in their respective polling units.

FINDINGS

The Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition (NFC) reviewed the results on the INEC IReV portal for the polling units mentioned. At Baba Akande’s unit (PU 12, Ward 4, Atogbade, Ila-Orangun), the APC secured 181 votes while Accord received 121, out of 316 total votes. Meanwhile, at former Governor Oyinlola’s unit in Court Hall I, Okuku, Odo-Otin LGA, Accord won with 125 votes against the APC’s 85, from a total of 220 ballots cast. Premium Times and The Nation also reported that Akande won his polling units (PU) for the APC while Oyinlola lost his PU to the ruling Accord party in the state.

VERDICT: PARTLY CORRECT

SOURCES: INEC REV Portal, Premium Times and The Nation.

DATE: August 15, 2026

AUTHOR: Samuel Agbelusi

EDITORS: OPEYEMI KEHINDE AND MOTUNRAYO JOEL

#OsunDecides2026: Fact-checking Adeleke’s claims on governance, pensions and education

Zainab ABDULRASAQ
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#OsunDecides2026: Fact-checking Adeleke’s claims on governance, pensions and education

ARISE TV, one of Nigeria’s leading national television channels, hosted a governorship town hall meeting in August 2026 ahead of the Osun State governorship election, featuring three of the leading candidates in the race.

The programme featured incumbent governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, who is seeking a second term, alongside Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Dr Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The candidates presented their visions and manifestos for the state ahead of Saturday’s election.

For this fact-check, The FactCheckHub focused exclusively on claims made by Adeleke and selected some of them for verification, given the volume of claims made during the programme and for the sake of brevity.

READ: Fact-checking Peter Obi’s claims on Channels TV

CLAIM 1

Osun is the only state in the South West without an airport.

FINDINGS

Adeleke claimed that Osun is the only state in the South West without an airport.

For administrative and political representation, Nigeria is grouped into six geopolitical zones: North Central, North East, North West, South East, South South and South West. The South West geopolitical zone comprises six states: Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Osun and Oyo.

An assessment of aviation infrastructure across Nigeria’s South West geopolitical zone, shows that the other five states in the region, Lagos, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti and Ogun, have operational commercial, passenger or agro-cargo airport facilities.

Specifically, Lagos, Oyo, and Ondo states have long had operational commercial airports. In addition, the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Airport and Ogun State’s Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport have been commissioned and received regulatory approval to commence flight operations.

In contrast, the MKO Abiola International Airport in Moshood Abiola/Ido-Osun, Osun State, remains a project yet to be implemented, making Osun the only state in the South West without an operational airport.

VERDICT

The claim is TRUE. All five other states in the South West have operational airports, while Osun remains the only state in the region without an operational airport.

CLAIM 2

Osun State rose from 33rd to 7th in NECO/WAEC examination performance during his tenure.

FINDINGS

Adeleke claimed that Osun State’s performance in the National Examinations Council (NECO) and West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examinations improved from 33rd to seventh place during his tenure.

Adeleke also posted the claim on X on 6 May 2025, citing the Standard Educational Performance Ranking of States 2024 report, published by NECO.

According to the document, Osun State ranked seventh, behind Lagos, Kano, Oyo, Benue, Ogun and Katsina states.

However, data analysis by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), an independent, Nigerian investigative journalism organisation, found that the NECO ranking cited by the governor was based solely on the number of candidates who obtained at least five credits, including Mathematics and English. While Osun had 29,101 candidates who met this benchmark, placing it seventh nationally by volume, an assessment based on the actual pass rate among candidates who sat the examination puts Osun’s success rate at 70.52%, ranking it 13th nationally, behind states including Abia, Imo, Ebonyi and Lagos.

According to the analysis, using the number of candidates rather than the percentage who passed to rank educational performance can be misleading, as states with larger populations are likely to have more candidates sitting the examination.

VERDICT

The claim is MOSTLY TRUE. While Osun ranked seventh by the total number of candidates who met the pass benchmark, largely reflecting its candidate volume, its performance based on the percentage of candidates who passed places the state 13th nationally.

CLAIM 3

Adeleke claimed his administration recruited more than 1,500 Amotekun personnel.

FINDINGS

The governor claimed that his administration recruited more than 1,500 Amotekun personnel.

Operation Amotekun, formally known as the Western Nigeria Security Network, is a regional security initiative established by the South West states to combat kidnapping and other criminal activities across the region.

In January 2025, Dr Adekunle Isaac Omoyele, Commander of the Osun Amotekun Corps, said the corps had an initial strength of 320 personnel inherited from the previous administration before the Adeleke administration’s recruitment exercise. He added that Adeleke had approved the recruitment of 1,000 additional operatives to complement the existing personnel.

Following their selection and training, Adeleke presided over the passing-out parade of 1,150 newly recruited Amotekun cadets on 28 March 2025 at the Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Ede, Osun State.

The recruitment exercise brought the corps’ strength to 1,150 newly recruited operatives. However, Adeleke’s claim that his administration recruited “more than 1,500” personnel is not supported by the available records. The 1,150 new recruits, combined with the 320 personnel inherited from the previous administration, amount to 1,470, which is 30 short of 1,500.

VERDICT

The claim is MOSTLY TRUE. Adeleke’s administration undertook a significant recruitment exercise for the Osun Amotekun Corps, but available official records show that 1,150 new operatives were recruited. This falls short of the “more than 1,500” claimed by the governor

READ ALSO: Osun 2026: Senator Fadahunsi’s ‘kill’ remark in viral video is real, not AI-generated

CLAIM 4

Adeleke claimed his administration has paid over N80 billion to pensioners.

FINDINGS

Governor Adeleke said during the town hall meeting that his administration had disbursed more than N80 billion to settle inherited pension debts and gratuities.

Findings from statutory records of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and state financial reports indicate that, while Osun State has periodically issued bond certificates to contributory pensioners and released funds for the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), there are no published, audited PenCom records or independent financial reports validating a cumulative N80 billion payout during his tenure.

According to PenCom’s sub-national compliance status reports, Osun State has implemented the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) but still has significant outstanding liabilities relating to accrued rights and pension arrears inherited from previous administrations. Although state government statements, including those reported by The Guardian Nigeria, confirm periodic payments to retirees and next of kin, there is no independent financial audit or verified PenCom remittance record publicly available to substantiate Adeleke’s claim.

VERDICT

The claim is UNPROVEN. While the administration has made payments towards pension liabilities and released pension bonds, no independent audited financial records or verified PenCom documents have been published to substantiate the claimed N80 billion figure.

Pre-election LIVE-CHECK for Osun 2026 governorship election

Editorial
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Pre-election LIVE-CHECK for Osun 2026 governorship election

AHEAD of the Osun State 2026 Governorship Election slated for Saturday, August 15, our team of journalists, researchers, fact-checkers, social media monitors, editors, and OSINT experts are on ground at the Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition’s (NFC) Election Situation Rooms to debunk election-related misinformation and disinformation content targeted at causing voter apathy, inciting violence or influencing the outcome of gubernatorial poll.

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

Share with the NFC via WhatsApp here.

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

Claim 1

On August 13, 2026, Christopher Imumolen, in a video (archived here), claimed that the Accord Party has withdrawn support for its gubernatorial candidate, Ademola Adeleke and endorsed the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

FINDINGS

The Guardian and Premium Times identified Imumolen as the “factional national chairman” of the Accord Party, whose faction has withdrawn support for Governor Adeleke ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial election.

However, Punch reported that the Accord Party has dismissed Imumolen’s claim of endorsement of the APC’s gubernatorial candidate, Bola Oyebamiji. The party also dismissed Imumolen’s description as a factional leader, stating that it has no faction.

Additionally, the current national party Chairperson of the Accord Party, recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is Maxwell Mgbudem. The Accord Party’s official website also mentions Mgbudem as its national chairperson.

VERDICT: MISLEADING.

SOURCE: INEC, Accord Party’s website, Premium Times, Punch

DATE: 13/8/2026

FACT CHECK AUTHOR: Cole Praise

EDITORS: Lois Ugbede, Bamas Victoria & Simbiat Bakare.

CLAIM 2

On Aug. 13, 2026, barely 48 hours before the 2026 Osun governorship election, an X user, @OurFavOnlineDoc, posted a video (archived here) showing a woman distributing cash to residents, with a claim that it shows the wife of an APC candidate sharing money with women to buy their votes.

FINDINGS

NFC checks show that the woman in the video is Maryam Wadada, the wife of Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Nasarawa State.

According to Nasarawa Eye, a local media outlet that reported the exercise, the video shows the distribution of N50,000 each to women in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State as part of an empowerment programme supported by Senator Wadada.

Speaking at the event, Maryam said the money was intended to help the beneficiaries grow their businesses, support their children and become self-reliant.

However, there is no evidence that the money was distributed specifically to induce voters. Although the timing of the intervention may raise questions, available evidence shows the exercise is a women’s empowerment programme rather than voter inducement.

Source: Nasarawa Eye

VERDICT: MISLEADING

Date: 14/08/2026

Author: Nurudeen Akewushola

Editors: Bamas Victoria, Lois Ugbede, & Simbiat Bakare.

CLAIM 3

An X user shared a video (archived link) claiming that an Osun entrepreneur was seen sharing rice with residents while urging them to vote for the APC

FINDINGS

The Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition conducted an image search on the video and found that the earliest version dates to Aug 11, 2026. In the video posted by ROOTS TV, the entrepreneur was identified as Falilat Yusuf, popularly known as Ero Arike, a famous grassroots mobilizer for the All Progressives Congress (APC).  She was filmed distributing rice to residents while urging them to vote for the APC candidate in the forthcoming Osun governorship election.  Punch Newspaper also reported the event.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCE: ROOTS TV, PUNCH Newspaper

DATE: 14/08/2026

AUTHOR:  Lademi Aborisade

EDITOR(S): Lois Ugbede

CLAIM 4

Nigeria Newsdesk, in a post on X, claimed that the Nigerian Police Force had announced a statewide restriction on vehicular movement from midnight ahead of the Osun governorship election on Saturday, 15 August 2026.

FINDINGS: Reports from  TVC News confirm that the Nigerian Police Force in Osun State announced a statewide restriction on vehicular movement from midnight on Friday. The restriction exempts voters and people on special or security duties. The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu said the measure was introduced to enhance security during the election.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCE: TVC News, The Guardian

DATE: 14/08/2026

AUTHOR: Rebecca Ogungbure

EDITOR(S): MOTUNRAYO JOEL AND OPEYEMI KEHINDE

CLAIM 5

An X user claimed (archived here) that INEC had substituted the names of polling officers and ad hoc staff  in Egbedore, Atakumosa East and West, with those of people who were neither trained nor shortlisted.

FINDINGS: To verify the claim, the Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition (NFC) contacted on-ground observers from the Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID). In Atakumosa East, an observer shared with the NFC photographs showing instances where the names of electoral officials had reportedly been replaced. In Atakumosa West, an observer said that the names displayed publicly by INEC did not match those of officials trained by the commission, adding that most trainees could not find their names on their list.

However, an observer in Egbedore told the NFC that the names of INEC’s ad hoc staff and polling officers had not been changed for the area.

The NFC contacted INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Osun State, Oluwatoyin Babalola, about the situation, and she stated that INEC properly collated the names of its ad hoc staff. However, the number of people that were trained exceeds the number of workforce needed to handle the election.

VERDICT: PARTLY CORRECT

SOURCES: CJID Observers, INEC’s REC for Osun State.

DATE: 14/8/2026

AUTHOR: Cole Praise

EDITOR(S): MOTUNRAYO JOEL AND OPEYEMI KEHINDE

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