PRE-ELECTION FACT-CHECK: DUBAWA, NFC monitor mis/disinformation ahead of Ekiti 2026 governorship election

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Nigerian Fact-checkers' Coalition

DUBAWA, alongside its partners at the Nigerian Fact-Checkers’ Coalition (NCF), has commenced a live fact-checking of claims ahead of the June 20, 2026, Ekiti State gubernatorial election. 

The live fact check will verify false or misleading information shared on social media, such as X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. This is to ensure that the electorate is equipped with accurate information before and during the election period.

Below are the claims:

CLAIM 1

CLAIM: Roundoff News, a news blog, has claimed (archived) that the Zenith Labour Party candidate, Victor Adetunji, has stepped down and endorsed the incumbent Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji.

FINDINGS: The Nigerian Fact-Checkers’ Coalition (NFC) spoke with Yahaya Makama, the National Secretary of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). Makama confirmed the claim to be true but noted that the ZLP was not consulted before the candidate, Victor Adetunji, stepped down and endorsed Oyebanji. 

“We didn’t endorse it here, and at the national level. We don’t know anything, as far as we are concerned. We are not aware of it, and we don’t endorse it. He did it without the consent of the national level.”

Makama added that the candidate’s action is the reason the party took action against its state chairperson, and the party does not endorse the All Progressives Congress candidate.

Yinka Oyebode, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, also confirmed Adetunji stepped down and has shown support for Oyebanji. 

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCE: Yahaya Makama, ZLP National Secretary and Chief Press Secretary to Ekiti State governor, Yinka Oyebode.

DATE: June 18, 2026

FACT CHECK AUTHOR: Muktar Balogun

EDITORS: Lois Ugbede, Opeyemi Kehinde, and Simbiat Bakare.

CLAIM 2

CLAIM: A Facebook user shared an image (archived here) claiming it shows Ekiti residents collecting food items from politicians ahead of the June 20, 2026, gubernatorial elections.

FINDINGS: Google Reverse Image Search results linked the image to a separate event, which took place in Oyo State on June 9, 2026. Sahara Reporters, Lagelu FM and Punch explained that the image showed some Oyo residents expressing their support for Sharafadeen Alli, an APC politician, after he distributed 1kg sachets of Semovita during a political outreach.

VERDICT: Misleading.

SOURCE: Sahara Reporters, Lagelu FM and Punch.

DATE: June 19, 2026 

FACT CHECK AUTHOR:  Sunday Awosoro

EDITORS: Bamas Victoria & Simbiat Bakare

Claim 3

CLAIM: An X user @OyoNews1 claims (archived here) that INEC cleared 13 political parties. A similar claim was found on Facebook.

FINDINGS: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID), and DUBAWA’s publications reveal there were 14 candidates cleared by INEC to contest for the top political seat in Ekiti State.

However, Joseph Anifowose, of the Allied Peoples Movement party, in May 2026, declared support for the current governor, Abiodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress party. Victor Adetunji of the Zenith Labour Party also stepped down in support of the APC candidate on Thursday, June 18, 2026.

Meanwhile, INEC has included the Social Democratic Party’s candidate, Peter Obafemi, in the governorship race, despite its leadership crisis. INEC, Ekiti State, told the Nigerian Fact-Checking Coalition that despite the inclusion, there is no updated official list reflecting the new development.

Consequently, only 13 candidates are currently in the race.

VERDICT: Correct.

SOURCE: INEC, DUBAWA, Arise News, The Nation

DATE: June 19, 2026

FACT CHECK AUTHOR:  Cole Praise

EDITORS: Lois Ugbede and Opeyemi Kehinde

Claim 4

CLAIM: A picture is going viral on WhatsApp with the headline, “Ekiti High Court “nullifies” Supreme Court’s Verdict,” linking the story to the ongoing elections in the state.

FINDINGS: A Google search revealed that the picture in question was a screenshot of an old news article published by The Nation in 2019. The context is the relocation of the Ilejemeje local government council headquarters from Iye-Ekiti to Eda-Oniyo, Ekiti State. 

After a unanimous decision by the Supreme Court in support of the relocation, Justice Abiodun Adesodun of the Ekiti High Court faulted the government’s compliance with the verdict and insisted that the status quo be maintained until the final ruling of the lower court on the case.

The story was also reported by Vanguard News and Premium Times Nigeria that same year.

VERDICT: MISLEADING

SOURCES: Vanguard Newspaper and Premium Times.

DATE:  19 June 2026

FACT CHECK AUTHOR: Rebecca Ogungbure

EDITORS: Ajibola Amzat, Opeyemi Kehinde and Simbiat Bakare