Recently, the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Party (NDC), Peter Obi, was interviewed on Politics Today, an evening programme aired by Channels Television.
On the programme, Obi discussed his hopes for Nigeria and ways to fix the country, while making claims that raised eyebrows and called for verification.
Claim 1: All the commissioners that served in Anambra during Peter Obi’s administration were muslims and from the North
Verdict: False.
In 2012, Channels Television reported that Obi swore in five new commissioners and four special advisers in the Exco Chambers of the Government House. They include John Okoh, commissioner for Lands; Chuba Okoli, commissioner for Science and Technology; Uju Okeke, commissioner for Education; Ngozika Okoy, commissioner for Finance; and Ndubisi Menakaya, commissioner for Social Duties.
Vanguard also reported a similar development.
Although we could not establish their religion, the above-named individuals are Southeasterners.
However, Obi corrected the statement while speaking to THISDAY on Monday, July 27, 2026. He clarified that he meant the commissioners of police who served in Anambra State while he was governor were not from the South-East but were career officers from Northern states.
Claim 2: The World Bank says 79 per cent of Nigerians are going to face poverty
Verdict: True.
Punch newspaper and Business Day both report that the World Bank has disclosed that 79 per cent of Nigerians are poor or risk falling into poverty, reflecting the country’s steep social and economic challenges.
Business Day further stated that the bank, in its Country Partnership Framework for Nigeria, which spans from 2026 to 2034, said that about 139 million Nigerians are living below the national poverty line, with poverty predominant in the Northern part of the country.
Claim 3: 40 people were abducted in Zamfara on Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Verdict: True. The Guardian reports that not less than 40 members, mostly women and children, were abducted by armed bandits from 11 communities in Mayanchi district of Maru Local Council Area of Zamfara State.
Daily Post reported in a similar development that the attacks lasted for four consecutive days and forced residents to flee their homes for safety.
Claim 4: No single school of nursing, midwifery, laboratory scientist, or lab technology was accredited by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) before Obi’s tenure as governor
Verdict: Insufficient evidence.
The Anambra State Government announced in 2012 that, before Obi’s tenure as governor, no medical institution had been accredited. The announcement revealed that two hospitals, including Onitsha General Hospital and Amaku Teaching Hospital, Awka, were accredited during Obi’s tenure as governor. The report added that the governor was working at that time to have Ekwulobia General Hospital accredited.
However, we found no other credible source or news outlet that independently reported on or corroborated the claim or report detailing the state of hospitals before Obi’s tenure.
Claim 5: Bangladesh produces 50 to 60 million tons of unmilled rice
Verdict: True. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) reports that Bangladesh’s unprocessed rice production has nearly quadrupled since 1971, rising from 15 million tons to an estimated 55 million tons in 2024. This makes it the world’s third-largest rice producer.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reports that Bangladesh’s aggregate paddy production of rice in 2025 is expected to be at an above-average level of 62 million tonnes.
Claim 6: Ethiopia makes over a billion dollars from coffee exports
Verdict: True. All Africa reported on July 3, 2026, that Ethiopia achieved a historic milestone in its coffee industry, generating a record $3 billion in export earnings during the current fiscal year. This is the highest on record.
Business Insider Africa also reports that Ethiopia’s coffee exports have hit a milestone, after reaching the $3 billion mark for the first time in the country’s history.
Claim 7: 90 per cent of the jobs in Indonesia are in small-scale businesses
Verdict: True. Sixty_decibels reports that Indonesia has over 62 million micro and small enterprises; 99 per cent of them are micro, and they employ 97 per cent of the nation’s workforce.
The International Institute for Sustainable Development also reports that in Indonesia, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises account for more than 90 per cent of all firms across sectors.
Claim 8: The Presidency purchased aircraft for over N300 billion
Verdict: Insufficient Evidence. Back in 2024, Punch newspapers reported that the presidency unveiled the new Airbus A330 purchased for President Bola Tinubu. However, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who announced the purchase, did not state the amount the aircraft was bought for.
The Vanguard newspaper, while reporting the public debate about the president’s flight to Paris in the aircraft, quoted the Senior Special Assistant (Print Media) to the President, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, as saying the Airbus was bought from funds in the “service-wide vote.” The specific amount was not reported.
Claim 9: China has a foreign reserve of $3.5 trillion
Verdict: False.
Seastats reports that China has the world’s largest currency reserves at $3.41 trillion, ahead of Japan ($1.26 trillion) and Switzerland ($932 billion).
Trading Economics reported on Jan. 1, 2026, that China’s foreign reserves increased by $11.5 billion to $3.358 trillion in December 2025, up from $3.346 trillion in November 2025.
The 3.5 trillion claimed is three trillion, five hundred billion in words, while the 3.41 trillion in the Seastats report is three trillion four hundred and ten billion, or three trillion four hundred billion if approximated to one decimal place. Consequently, the numbers reported in the reports are estimated to be 100 billion lower than the presidential candidate claimed.
Claim 10: South Korea has a foreign reserve of over $400 billion
Verdict: True.
Xinhua news outlet reports that South Korea’s foreign exchange reserves rose by $0.37 billion from a month earlier to $427.36 billion at the end of June.
Trading Economics also published a similar report.