LIVE FACT-CHECKS: Ondo Governorship Off-Cyle Election—SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2024

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As vote collation continues in the Ondo State governorship election, DUBAWA and its partners at the Nigerian Fact-Checkers’ Coalition (NCF) continue to conduct live fact-checks on claims around the election. This is to ensure the dispensation of accurate information.

See claims and verification below.

Claim 1

CLAIM: An X user, @JBAdamu, claimed that 34,000 police officers were deployed for the Ondo election

FINDINGS: During an interview with Channels TV, the deputy inspector-general of police (DIG) coordinating election security, Abiodun Alabi, disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force deployed 34,000 police officers for Saturday’s off-cycle gubernatorial election in Ondo State.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCES: TheCable, Channels TV

DATE: 17/11/2024

FACTCHECK AUTHOR: Nurudeen Akewushola

EDITORS: Simbiat Bakare & Opeyemi Kehinde

CLAIM 2

CLAIM: A Facebook user, Gbenga Fasole Ilutitun, claimed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) result in the recently concluded Ondo governorship election is the worst the party ever experienced in the state.

FINDINGS: Using available data, the claim is accurate. In the November 16, 2024, governorship election, the APC won in all 18 LGAs after securing 366,781 votes, which is equivalent to about 70% (366,791) of the actual votes cast, leaving the PDP with only 23% (117,845).

In previous elections, the PDP had performed fairly better than this. In the 2020 election, the APC candidate got 51.1% (292,830) of the actual votes, with the PDP candidate trailing behind with 34.2% (195,791) after the latter won in three LGAs. In 2016, PDP got 27.28% (150, 380) to APC’s 44.41% (244,842), securing victory in two LGAs, while in 2012, PDP got 24.97% (155, 961) to LP’s 41.75% (260,199). The PDP candidate emerged as the winner in 2003 and 2007, though the PDP candidate in 2007 was later sacked via a court order. The party was formed in 1998.