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Claim: A Facebook user shared a picture of Peter Obi and MC Oluomo and alleged it was taken when the former paid homage to the latter.
Verdict: Misleading! Careful findings show that the shared image has been digitally altered. Only MC Oluomo appeared in the initial picture copies taken at the NURTW election. Moreover, in all the news reports by news outlets, there is no mention of Mr Obi in attendance at the NURTW election.
Full Text
Peter Obi has remained a recurring subject of social monitoring and engagement since his political aspiration for the country’s top political seat and subsequent loss at the 2023 general elections.
Recently, a Facebook user, Alaro Muhydeen, shared an image of the Labour Party (LP) stalwart in a joint photograph with the newly elected National Union of Road, Transport Workers (NURTW) national president, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo.
Alongside the shared image, the Facebook user described the picture of the duo as a symbol of a working partnership following MC Oluomo’s election as the new NURTW national president.
The post reads, “BREAKING: Mr Peter Obi Pays Homage To MC Oluomo, Vows To Work With Him As The New NURTW National President.”
The post, shared on Nov. 14, 2024, has generated about 21 likes, one comment, and two reposts.
DUBAWA came across similar posts on Facebook (here and here), X (here and here), and Instagram (here).
DUBAWA decided to verify the post’s authenticity and forestall any disinformation.
Verification
DUBAWA conducted a Google Reverse Image Search on the image, and we noticed that the result shows the image to be related to MC Oluomo’s recent appointment as the national president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
During our search, we came across images similar to those shared by the Facebook user here, here, and here. However, Mr Obi is not in any of these pictures, contradicting the claimant’s post. Moreover, mainstream media outlets, such as Guardian TV and Politics Nigeria, have also published similar images of MC Oluomo without Mr Obi featured.
DUBAWA further went to check credible media reports to know the context of the shared image.
A Premium Times report published on Nov. 10, 2024, informed of MC Oluomo’s recent election as the NURTW national president. However, it did not mention that Mr Obi attended the transport association’s election.
Similarly, Punch published a report that same day, adding that the election occurred at the Union’s Zonal Secretariat along Ikirun Road, Osogbo. The Nation and Vanguard also reported identical information about his appointment in November 2024, and none mentions Mr Obi’s attendance that day.
DUBAWA searched YouTube for videos related to MC Oluomo’s inauguration. A video report by Television Continental (TVC) on Nov. 12, 2024, shows Mr Obi not present at the NURTW election. We also checked Mr Obi’s official X handle and found no information supporting the claimant’s post. We checked MC Oluomo’s official Facebook page, where he shared various pictures he took at the NURTW election. And again, Mr Obi was not in any of them.
Conclusion
The image purportedly showing Mr Obi and Oluomo has been digitally altered. Similar images shared on social media do not show Peter Obi. Meanwhile, there was no report of Peter Obi attending the inauguration ceremony of MC Oluomo.
