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LIVE FACT-CHECKS: Nigeria’s 2023 Governorship Election – SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023

Claim 19

CLAIM: A Twitter user, @ChumaOrji3, claimed ‘PDP political thugs’ were caught at Isi Uzo LGA of Enugu State.

FINDING: CODE’s observer in Isi Uzo LGA, Ayogu Friday, who had firsthand information about the incident, confirmed that some thugs were caught and handed over to security agents. However, he could not independently confirm if they were thugs from the PDP. An online newspaper, The Whistler, also reported the incidence.

LIVE FACT-CHECKS: Nigeria’s 2023 Governorship Election - SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023

VERDICT: PARTLY CORRECT

SOURCE: CODE OBSERVER, The Whistler

DATE: 18/03/23

Claim 18

CLAIM: Former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, claimed INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, worked under Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, as Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

FINDING: Yakubu was the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) from August 2007 to August 2012. Wike was appointed the Minister of State for Education in July 2011. According to the TETFUND Act, the Executive Secretary is appointed by the President, and he/she reports to the  Board of Trustees. The Fund is managed by an 11-member Board of Trustees, including a representative of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Federal Inland Revenue Services. 

LIVE FACT-CHECKS: Nigeria’s 2023 Governorship Election - SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023

VERDICT: Misleading

SOURCE: TETFUND website 

DATE: 18/03/2023

Claim 17:

CLAIM: Twitter user, Kelechi Favour (@kclove_diamond), shared a video credited to AIT showing staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) caught with ballot papers and election materials in Olamaboro, Kogi State.

FINDING: A close look at AIT Live’s YouTube page led to a short video on an INEC staff caught with election materials. The video exists on the AIT page, but NFC cannot independently verify it.

LIVE FACT-CHECKS: Nigeria’s 2023 Governorship Election - SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023

VERDICT: Correct

SOURCE: AIT Live

DATE:18/03/2023

FACT-CHECK AUTHOR(s): Lois Ugbede

Claim 16:

CLAIM: Social media users claim the managing director of Kano Line Transport, who is also an APC chieftain, Bashir Aliko Koki, was arrested for electoral violence.

FINDING: The NFC contacted the Public Relations Officer, Kano Police Command, SP. Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa. He confirmed that some men were arrested for electoral violence in the Gwammaja area of Dala LGA, Kano state. 

He added that persons who know Koki claim he was one of the men in the photo. However, Kano Police Command is still investigating to verify the men’s identity in the photo.

LIVE FACT-CHECKS: Nigeria’s 2023 Governorship Election - SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023

VERDICT: Yet Unproven

SOURCE: Police PRO

DATE: 18-03-2023

Claim 15:

CLAIM: Adamu Garba, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), claimed reports of violence in Lagos state are false.

LIVE FACT-CHECKS: Nigeria’s 2023 Governorship Election - SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023

FINDING: There have been several reports of violence in different parts of Lagos state. A report by Punch Newspaper showed that there had been incidents of violence at Ilasa, Oshodi Isolo and Agungi in the Lekki Eti Osa areas of Lagos state. Also, the NFC had confirmed a violent incident in PU 039 in Sabo, Oniba, Ojo, Lagos and Desa polling unit at Ibeju Lekki, Lagos state.

In its live reporting, Arise TV also documented incidents of violence in some parts of Okota in Lagos state. 

VERDICT: INCORRECT. 

SOURCES: Punch Newspaper, CODE Observer, Arise TV.

DATE: 18-03-2023

Claim 14

CLAIM:  A Twitter user (@Globalrightsng) claimed that INEC, in Ogun State, did not bring complete ballot papers to units in Ado-odo/Ota and particularly Ketu Adie-Owe ward.

LIVE FACT-CHECKS: Nigeria’s 2023 Governorship Election - SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023

FINDING: The NFC contacted CODE election observer in Ogun State, Oluwaseyi Afolabi, who said there was no report of such, as voting took place in the areas mentioned in Ado Odo /Ota Local Government Area of Lagos.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCE: CODE OBSERVER

DATE:18/03/2023

Claim 13

CLAIM: A blog post by Barristerng claims the United Kingdom (UK) said its visa application centres in Lagos would be closed on March 20 over the likely outbreak of post-election violence in the state.

LIVE FACT-CHECKS: Nigeria’s 2023 Governorship Election - SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023

FINDING: In a statement published on Twitter on Friday, the UK said its visa application centres (VACs) in Ikeja and Victoria Island would be closed Monday (March 20th) to protect the safety of its customers and staff. It added that there are no visa application appointments booked on the said date, and customers will not be able to access the centres to collect documents/passports. 

VERDICT: TRUE

SOURCE: UK IN NIGERIA 

DATE: 18/03/2023

Claim 12

CLAIM: A Twitter user @KingChrissie2 claimed two results from polling units in Rivers state had been uploaded on the INEC result viewing portal as of 9:55am. 

LIVE FACT-CHECKS: Nigeria’s 2023 Governorship Election - SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023

FINDING: As of 11:56am when the NFC visited the INEC IReV portal, the result landing page indicates that two results have been uploaded out of over 6,800 polling units in the state. However, they are invalid. When NFC downloaded the result, the Ojugbe Townhall PU showed an empty result sheet, while the Baptist High School 1 PU showed the portrait of an unidentified man.

VERDICT: INCORRECT 

SOURCE: INEC IReV portal

DATE: 18/03/2023

Claim 11:

CLAIM: Social media users claimed APC thugs attacked a voter at a polling unit in Desa, Ibeju Lekki, in Lagos state. 

FINDING: The CODE Observer in Lagos state, Daniel Atebe Joseph, confirmed the incident to be true. However, he told the NFC that he couldn’t determine if thugs were affiliated with any political party.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCE: CODE Observer

Claim 10:

CLAIM: Dino Melaye shared a video of a session in the UK parliament featuring a caption, “game over for the APC as UK parliament confirm elections was rigged.”

LIVE FACT-CHECKS: Nigeria’s 2023 Governorship Election - SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023

FINDING: In the video, a member of the UK parliament said some members of her constituency and the European Union have expressed “concerns of serious failures of technology, security and communication in the presidential election.” There was no mention of rigging or any political party.

VERDICT: Misleading

SOURCE: Facebook video

DATE: 18-03-2023

Claim 9:

CLAIM: A media platform, Ogun Update, claimed that operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement (NDLEA) had arrested four party agents with over 100 credit cards meant for vote-buying at Ibara Housing Estate in Ogun State. 

LIVE FACT-CHECKS: Nigeria’s 2023 Governorship Election - SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023

FINDING: A report by TheCable confirmed the arrest. Also confirmed by NDLEA on Twitter, the agency disclosed that the four agents had N10,000 on each card, which can be activated with a code.

VERDICT: Correct 

SOURCE: TheCable, NDLEA 

DATE:18-03-2023

Claim 8

CLAIM: The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) claimed that thugs have “reportedly hijacked and destroyed” electoral materials for State House of Assembly elections in four wards in Ogbia Local Government Area in Bayelsa State.

LIVE FACT-CHECKS: Nigeria’s 2023 Governorship Election - SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023

FINDING: Daily Trust’s correspondent in Bayelsa State, Willie Bassey, confirmed to NFC that the incident affected four wards as the hoodlums attacked the RAC centre in the community. 

He added that the area affected is the Ogbia Constituency 2, Bayelsa State, not the entire local government. According to a Daily Trust report, an anonymous INEC official states that the materials were burnt. Also, the State’s Police Public Relations Officer, Asinim Butswat, confirmed that the report occurred last night.

VERDICT: Correct

SOURCE: Daily Trust/Bayelsa Police PPRO

DATE: 18/03/2023

Claim 7

CLAIM: A Twitter user @KingChrissie2 claimed two results from polling units in Rivers state had been uploaded on the INEC result viewing portal as of 9:55am. 

LIVE FACT-CHECKS: Nigeria’s 2023 Governorship Election - SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023

FINDING: As of 11:56am when the NFC visited the INEC IReV portal, the result landing page indicates that two results have been uploaded out of over 6,800 polling units in the state. However, they are invalid. When NFC downloaded the result, the Ojugbe Townhall PU showed an empty result sheet, while the Baptist High School 1 PU showed the portrait of an unidentified man.

VERDICT: INCORRECT 

SOURCE: INEC IReV portal

DATE: 18/03/2023

Claim 6:

CLAIM: A Twitter user, @PIDOMNIGERIA, claimed that the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, was hospitalised on Monday and is in critical condition. 

LIVE FACT-CHECKS: Nigeria’s 2023 Governorship Election - SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023

FINDING: According to media reports, Bola Tinubu cast his ballot earlier Saturday morning at his polling unit in Alausa, Ikeja area of Lagos State. The NFC contacted Tinubu’s media aide, Tunde Rahman, who clarified that the news was false. He reiterated that Mr Tinubu is fine.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCE: Media Reports/Tinubu’s spokesperson Tunde Rahman

DATE: 18/03/2023

Claim 5:

CLAIM: In a video shared on Twitter, some thugs threaten to kill voters if they don’t vote for APC. The incident was reported at PU 039, Sabo Oniba, Ojo, Lagos state.

LIVE FACT-CHECKS: Nigeria’s 2023 Governorship Election - SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023

FINDING: The NFC contacted the Lagos state’s CODE Election observer, Daniel Joseph, who noted that he got reports from the PU that thugs were threatening to kill voters if they didn’t vote for APC.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCE: CODE Election Observer

DATE: 18/03/2023

Claim 4: 

CLAIM: Senator Dino Melaye claims that security forces arrested some thugs associated with APC in Lagos state yesterday, March 17.

LIVE FACT-CHECKS: Nigeria’s 2023 Governorship Election - SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023

FINDING: The video Mr Melaye tweeted was first shared by a Twitter user on May 29, 2022, with a different narrative. A news media, Oyo Affairs, also made a report regarding the video on the same day, stating police intercepted thugs trying to disrupt APC primaries in Oyo state. 

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCE: Oyo Affairs, Twitter

DATE: 18/03/2023

Claim 3:

CLAIM: Twitter users claim that thugs have destroyed a polling unit at Sangotedo, Ajah, in Lagos State.

LIVE FACT-CHECKS: Nigeria’s 2023 Governorship Election - SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023

FINDING: The NFC contacted the state’s CODE Election observer Daniel Atebe Joseph, who clarified that no election disruptions have occurred in the area so far. The observer stated that the only setback encountered in the vicinity was the case of INEC officials being late, causing rowdiness. However, the situation has been doused.

VERDICT: Incorrect 

SOURCE: CODE election observers 

DATE: 18/03/2023

Claim 2:

CLAIM: A Twitter user claims that the Lagos chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has collapsed its structure for LP governorship candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.

LIVE FACT-CHECKS: Nigeria’s 2023 Governorship Election - SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023

FINDING: The Lagos state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has debunked the claim. Also, the Director of Strategy and Communication, Lagos PDP governorship campaign, Seun Soyinka, told NFC that the claim is false. 

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCE: Lagos PDP governorship campaign team

DATE: 18/03/2023

Claim 1:

CLAIM: Social media users share a letter claiming Labour Party, Lagos chapter has replaced gubernatorial candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour with another. 

LIVE FACT-CHECKS: Nigeria’s 2023 Governorship Election - SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023

FINDING: The NFC contacted Sam Emeka Okpala, the Lagos state Secretary of the Labour Party, who explained that the widely circulated letter was forged.

Also, the LP Lagos state chapter debunked the report via its Twitter handle, explaining that the candidacy of Mr Rhodes-Vivour had not been changed.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCE: Lagos State LP Secretary

DATE: 18-03-2023

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, Temilade Onilede, Lateef Sanni (Dubawa); Catherine Adeniyi, Motunrayo Joel, Allwell Okpi, Seyi Awojuyigbe, Fatimah Abubakar, Abisola Olasupo (Africa Check); Faruk Shuaibu (Daily Trust); Felix Tola-Winjobi (CDD); Rejoice Ewodage, Hannah Ajakaiye (FactsMatterNG); Bunmi Aduloju (The Cable); 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).

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