DUBAWA, alongside its partners at the Nigerian Fact-Checkers’ Coalition (NCF), has commenced live fact-checking of claims ahead of the August 15, 2026, Osun State gubernatorial election.
The live fact-check will verify information shared by stakeholders online to ensure that the electorate is equipped with accurate information before and during the election period.
Below are the claims:
CLAIM 1
CLAIM: On August 13, 2026, Christopher Imumolen, in a video (archived here), claimed that the Accord Party has withdrawn support for its gubernatorial candidate, Ademola Adeleke and endorsed the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
FINDINGS:
The Guardian and Premium Times identified Imumolen as the “factional national chairman” of the Accord Party, whose faction has withdrawn support for Governor Adeleke ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial election.
However, Punch reported that the Accord Party has dismissed Imumolen’s claim of endorsement of the APC’s gubernatorial candidate, Bola Oyebamiji. The party also dismissed Imumolen’s description as a factional leader, stating that it has no faction.
Additionally, the current national party Chairperson of the Accord Party, recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is Maxwell Mgbudem. The Accord Party’s official website also mentions Mgbudem as its national chairperson.
VERDICT: MISLEADING.
SOURCE: INEC, Accord Party’s website, Premium Times, Punch
DATE: 13/8/2026
FACT CHECK AUTHOR: Cole Praise
EDITORS: Lois Ugbede, Bamas Victoria & Simbiat Bakare.
CLAIM 2
CLAIM: On Aug. 13, 2026, barely 48 hours before the 2026 Osun governorship election, an X user, @OurFavOnlineDoc, posted a video (archived here) showing a woman distributing cash to residents, with a claim that it shows the wife of an APC candidate sharing money with women to buy their votes.
FINDINGS
NFC checks show that the woman in the video is Maryam Wadada, the wife of Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Nasarawa State.
According to Nasarawa Eye, a local media outlet that reported the exercise, the video shows the distribution of N50,000 each to women in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State as part of an empowerment programme supported by Senator Wadada.
Speaking at the event, Maryam said the money was intended to help the beneficiaries grow their businesses, support their children and become self-reliant.
However, there is no evidence that the money was distributed specifically to induce voters. Although the timing of the intervention may raise questions, available evidence shows the exercise is a women’s empowerment programme rather than voter inducement.
Source: Nasarawa Eye
VERDICT: MISLEADING
Date: 14/08/2026
Author: Nurudeen Akewushola
Editors: Bamas Victoria, Lois Ugbede, & Simbiat Bakare