Claim: A Twitter user shared an image of the Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, alleging the image was from the Labour Party in Lagos.
Verdict: FALSE. Our findings show that Sanwo-Olu was not at the Labour Party Rally.
Full Text
The Labour Party held its final state campaign rally in Lagos State at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Onikan, on Saturday, February 11, 2023.
During the campaign, the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, made a few stops at some parts of the state, including Alaba and Idumota, to drum up more support for his candidacy before arriving at TBS.
Different images and videos with different narrative, purportly from the rally, were shared on social media. A Twitter user, Nwa❤️ (@Ozoadaz), in a post, alleged that the Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was at the rally of the Labour Party.
“APC Lagos state Governor Sanwo-Olu at Peter Obi campaign today 😂 Tinubu on your own 😭,” the post reads.
Christopher VOTE 🗳 LP @oweikpodor, in reply to the message, posted these images with the caption “@EmirSirdam Now, even Tinubu boy no LAGOS STATE is in danger(sic).”
The same Twitter handle, Nwa❤️ @Ozoadaz, on the same day posted again, “E Choke 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Lagos governor Sanwo-Olu At TBS ObiDatti campaign today 😂 We go still vote @GRVlagos for Lagos governor ✅” with more images of the Labour party vice presidential candidate and the Lagos state government claiming that the governor was at the Labour Party rally in Lagos state.
Another handle Olúwamáyọ̀wá ÀKÀNNÍ @iam_mayoor, posted, “Even your soon ex-governor was at the rally #PeterObi4President2023”
Verification
A reverse image search led to the original image posted by Jubril Gawat @Mr_JAGs, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor of Lagos State, on New Media on Twitter at an earlier time (6:57 PM).
“Their VP went to chill at Polo Club jejely and quickly used the opportunity to hail the big boss, the Performing Governor 😁😁😁,” the tweet reads.
We also contacted the state government through the Commissioner for Information, who dismissed the claim, “if the governor was at the rally, would you not see it on media stations and television?” The Commissioner said.
Conclusion
The claim that the Lagos state governor was at the Labour Party presidential rally on February 11, 2023, is false. The image shared is of the Lagos state governor and the Labour party vice presidential candidate at a polo club.
The researcher produced this fact-check per the DUBAWA 2023 Kwame Karikari Fellowship partnership with BONews to facilitate the ethos of “truth” in journalism and enhance media literacy in the country.
