A telephone number attributed to the Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has surfaced online with a claim that the governor makes his WhatsApp contact public to solicit the support of Lagos residents in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.
Sanwo-Olu, the incumbent governor of Lagos State is seeking re-election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the gubernatorial election billed for March 18, 2023.
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A Facebook user, ‘Advert with Me’ posted the claim with a caption thus:
“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu Desperate For A 2nd Term Suddenly Becomes Omnipresent, Begs Lagosians To Chat With Him On WhatsApp In A Sponsored Online Campaign.”
A Twitter user, @redcap_blonde tweeted the claim with another caption that read:
“Lol Babajide Sanwo-Olu it’s already too late or are you just waking up? The desperation no be here, please chat with him on WhatsApp. Sponsored post politicians.”
Another tweep, @toppensyy also tweeted the claim with a similar caption thus:
“Sanwoolu wan follow una chat for WhatsApp ooo. I’m sure if I tell am say I wan make my hair ,he go turn up(sic).”
Due to the viral nature of this claim and to save the citizens from falling to the tricks of the impostors, The FactCheckHub found this claim worthy of verifying.
CLAIM
Babajide Sanwo-Olu begs Lagosians to chat him on WhatsApp.
THE FINDINGS
Checks by The FactCheckHub show that the WhatsApp contact which has now gone viral originated from one Facebook account, Lagos Talks and not that of Governor Sanwo-Olu.
The Facebook account posted the contact, with a caption thus: “Chat with Sanwo-Olu on WhatsApp.”
However, the screenshot of the post has now been circulated on WhatsApp and Twitter with a claim that the governor publicizes his WhatsApp contact out of desperation for votes in the coming March 18 gubernatorial election in the state.
Further checks by The FactCheckHub using True Caller revealed that the name on the WhatsApp contact is: “Keep Lagos Moving.”
READ ALSO : Did Lagos record zero bank robbery in four years?
When The FactCheckHub sent a message to the WhatsApp number, the user identified himself as one Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is soliciting for the support of Lagosians in the March 18 gubernatorial election.
His automated response to our inquiry read:
“Hello. My name is Babajide Sanwo-Olu and I need your support on March 11th 2023 to continue moving Lagos forward. Please save my number so I will show you what you will benefit. Are you ready to get started? Type Yes or No(sic).”
To clarify further, The FactCheckHub contacted Gboyega Akoshile, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Sanwo-Olu.
In his response, he said the WhatsApp contact does not belong to Governor Sanwo-Olu, adding that it is an attempt by heinous scammers to dissuade the voters.
THE VERDICT
The claim that the Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu begged Lagos residents to chat him on WhatsApp is FALSE; the governor’s spokesperson has debunked the claim.
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.
