A viral video circulating on social media claims that former Nigerian presidential candidate and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, recently visited the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, at his residence in Yola, Adamawa State, suggesting that Sowore may be covertly working as a “controlled opposition” for the current Nigerian president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
An X account, @Instablog9ja, posted the video with a caption that read:
“Former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, met with APC’s Nuhu Ribadu a few months ago, and they shared light moments like brothers.”
The post has generated about 50,000 views, with over 200 likes and more than 50 reposts as May 3, 2025.
Another X account, @Letter_to_Jack, also posted the video with another caption thus:
“I saw this old video of Yele Sowore and Nuhu Ribadu exchanging greetings, and I wanted to use it to reiterate what I have always said:
“Politicians often disagree on ideology for the sake of their ambition. Even with that, they don’t really fight themselves to a standstill. They would always leave the window for reconciliation or re-alignment open……” (sic).
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The post has generated over 40,000 views, plus over 100 reposts and more than 300 likes as of May 3, 2025.
CLAIM
Video shows recent meeting between Sowore and Ribadu.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
Omoyele Sowore is a Nigerian human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters. He ran for president in 2019 and 2023 under the African Action Congress (AAC). He has been a strong critic of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Nigerian government.
Meanwhile, Nuhu Ribadu is a former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Ribadu, who is a chieftain of the APC, was appointed as National Security Adviser (NSA) in June 2023 by President Tinubu.
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The FactCheckHub subjected few keyframes in the video to a Google Reverse Image search and the result shows that it dates back to early 2018. The earlier footage was posted on Worship Media Television (WM TV) on June 18, 2018.
The YouTube video titled “Omoyele Sowore meeting with Nuhu Ribadu, former EFCC Chair, in Yola, Adamawa” actually captures a moment from Sowore’s campaign tour in the Northeast ahead of the 2019 general election. During the visit, Sowore was captured during a visit to Ribadu’s residence, where they reportedly discussed various issues. WM TV also credited to Sahara Reporters as the source of the video.
Furthermore, a review of major Nigerian news outlets shows no reports or coverage confirming a recent meeting between Ribadu and Sowore.
THE VERDICT
The claim that the video shows a recent meeting between NSA Nuhu Ribadu and Omoyele Sowore is MISLEADING; the video has been online since 2018 and unrelated to current events.
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 nyahaya@icirnigeria.org and @NurudeenAkewus1 via Twitter.
, Nuhu Ribadu, at his residence in Yola, Adamawa State, suggesting that Sowore may be covertly working as a "controlled opposition" for the current Nigerian president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.){kind=link}