Claim 7
CLAIM: A claim is shared on WhatsApp that the DSS has arrested the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
FINDING: A keyword Google search on the internet does not lead to any credible platform that reported the arrest. The NFC also contacted the Chief Spokesperson for the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Yunusa Tanko, who debunked it.
VERDICT: INCORRECT
SOURCE: LP spokesperson
Claim 6
CLAIM: Social media users are circulating a video with the narrative that soldiers are patrolling areas in Lagos state where supporters of the Labour Party would likely hold protests due to the announcement of Tinubu as the President-elect.
FINDING: When reached out to, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed the news. He said the exercise supports the Nigeria Police Force in ensuring a safe and conducive atmosphere for the peaceful conduct of the 2023 polls.
VERDICT: CORRECT
SOURCE: Nigerian Army Spokesperson
DATE: 02/03/2023
Claim 5
CLAIM: Social media users are circulating a video with the narrative that soldiers are patrolling areas in Lagos state where supporters of the Labour Party would likely hold protests due to the announcement of Tinubu as the President-elect.
FINDING: When reached out to, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, Onyema Nwachukwu, confirmed the news. He said the exercise supports the Nigeria Police Force in ensuring a safe and conducive atmosphere for the peaceful conduct of the 2023 polls.
VERDICT: CORRECT
SOURCE: Nigerian Army Spokesperson
DATE: 02/03/2023
Claim 4
CLAIM: A viral video shared by Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) shows the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, saying he is a governor rather than Nigeria’s president-elect.
FINDING: A look at the full video of his acceptance speech by TVC News shows that the video was shortened to pass that narrative. What Mr Tinubu said at about 20 minutes 11 seconds into the video was, “without your dedication, I will not stand here as your governor and president-elect. You made it possible.”
VERDICT: MISLEADING
SOURCE: TVC News
DATE: 02/03/2023
Claim 3
CLAIM: A screenshot of a purported AP headline shows the president of the USA, Joe Biden, calling for the cancellation of Nigeria’s presidential election.
FINDING: A visit to the AP News website and the president’s official social media handles showed that Mr Biden had not made any utterance regarding the outcome of Nigeria’s 2023 election. A keyword search on Google showed that the last time the US president spoke about Nigeria’s election was on February 23, when he called for a peaceful and transparent election in Nigeria.
VERDICT: INCORRECT.
SOURCE: Associated Press, Reuters News.
DATE: 01-03-2023
Claim 2
CLAIM: An Igbotimes magazine report claims the only son of Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has been shot dead in California over his father’s alleged interference in the just-concluded presidential election.
FINDING: Wike’s spokesperson, Kelvin Ebiri, debunked the claim. Also, a keyword search on Google shows that no such incident has been reported by any credible media platform. The NFC identified this website as a platform that shares misinformation and disinformation in the lead-up to the election.
VERDICT: INCORRECT
SOURCE: Google and Wike’s spokesperson
DATE: 01/03/2023
Claim 1
CLAIM: A Twitter user, @CHRIZINE2, shared a video showing the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, with a claim that he is crying because of his loss at the just-concluded Nigeria’s presidential election.
FINDING: A keyword search on Google led to the original video, which was uploaded by Channels TV on its YouTube channel on September 1, 2018, that’s over four years ago. The original footage shows when Mr Abubakar wept after receiving his party’s nomination form (PDP) to contest the 2019 presidential election.
VERDICT: MISLEADING
SOURCE: Channels TV
DATE: 01/03/2023
This live-check was jointly researched and written by members of the Nigerian Fact-Checkers’ Coalition (NFC): Nurudeen Akewushola, Faith Abeka, Fatimah Quadri (FactCheckHub); Rosemary Ajayi (Digital Africa Research Lab); Daniel Adaji (The Insight); Elizabeth Ogunbamowo, Lois Ugbede, Cole Praise, Silas Jonathan, Lateef Sanni (DUBAWA); Catherine Adeniyi, Motunrayo Joel, Allwell Okpi, Seyi Awojuyigbe, Fatimah Abubakar, Abisola Olasupo (Africa Check); Rejoice Ewodage, Hannah Ajakaiye (FactsMatterNG), Shehu Olayinka and Bamas Victoria (ICIR).
It was edited and approved for publication by Kemi Busari, Caroline Anipah, Simbiat Bakare (DUBAWA), David Ajikobi (Africa Check), Ajibola Amzat, and Opeyemi Kehinde (FactCheckHub).
G r a Azare
Very interesting and great things dubawa is doing. Nothing breeds conflicts like rumours. Henceforth, I shall be on the lookout for your verdicts in order to share them on my social media profiles.