ON August 19, 2023, an X user, Imran U. Wakili posted a photo showing Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party in Nigeria’s 2023 general election while bowing and shaking hands with Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the nation’s president.
Imran who is also an ardent supporter of Tinubu posted the photo with a caption that reads:
“I want to collect tears of Obidients so please if you see this just RT.”
The post has generated over 1,000 reposts and more than 2,000 likes as of Friday, August 25, 2023.
Recalled that The FactCheckHub had earlier fact-checked a photo showing Obi conversing with Seyi Tinubu where our findings show that the photo was manipulated.
The photos are being used to imply that Obi has given up his pursuit of justice at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal over the results of the 2023 presidential election.
CLAIM
Photo shows Obi exchanging handshakes with Tinubu.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
Checks conducted using Google Reverse Image search show that the image has been edited using an image manipulation software.
The search led us to the original image which shows Tinubu exchanging pleasantries with business mogul, Aliko Dangote when the later paid Tinubu a visit at the Defence Headquarters on April 26, 2023.
Checks show that Dangote’s image has been cropped out and replaced with Obi’s image in the photo.
Further findings revealed that the photo was created by X account, @Luca-Brasi-5.0, on August 19, 2023. Analysis of the account shows that he often manipulates images of public figures and politicians, especially Obi and President Tinubu.
The photo was also customised with his name and a Latin phrase “Caveat lector” which means “Let the readers beware,” a pointer to the fact that the photo has been doctored.
THE VERDICT
The claim the photo shows Obi exchanging handshakes with Tinubu is MISLEADING; checks show that the photo has been manipulated.
Nurudeen Akewushola is a fact-checker with FactCheckHub. He has authored several fact checks which have contributed to the fight against information disorder. You can reach him via [email protected] and @NurudeenAkewus1 via Twitter.
