Round-up: Obi’s old rally, Adelabu’s 2022 interview, other top claims fact-checked last week

Source: DUBAWA
Source: DUBAWA
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From recycled campaign videos and doctored speeches to distorted public statements, unverified content is shaping public opinion and causing unnecessary confusion ahead of the 2027 election.

Last week, DUBAWA fact-checked several trending stories circulating online, including claims about a youth rally in Abuja, recycled political footage, and edited speeches involving prominent figures. 

Here is a round-up of the key claims DUBAWA fact-checked.

A recent social media post falsely claims that a UNICEF report revealed 90% of sanitary pads sold on the market are contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The claim gained traction on Facebook, sparking concern among users about the safety and quality of menstrual hygiene products available to women.

However, a DUBAWA fact-check confirmed the assertion is misleading. UNICEF’s 2026 report on technical specifications for disposable sanitary pads simply states that pads must be free from bacterial contamination; it does not claim that 90% of available products are contaminated. 

During a recent appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Kano State governor and vice-presidential hopeful for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), made several statements about economic allocations, political history, and state policies. Amongst his assertions, Kwankwaso claimed that Kano State generated over N1 trillion in recent years. He also downplayed the Federal allocations received during his tenure and insisted that his administration provided eight years of entirely free education from primary school through to university.

Five of Kwankwaso’s key claims revealed a mixed record. While his statements regarding specific 2023 election results and the historical 2003 election timeline were correct, DUBAWA rated his claims about state revenue, past Federal allocations, and eight years of fully free education as misleading based on official financial records and policy implementation dates. Read more here.

A Facebook user shared a video claiming that former Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu recently urged Nigerians to reject the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections. The post accompanied a clip of Adelabu discussing the challenges of campaigning for the party, alleging he admitted the APC had wrecked the country and called on citizens to vote against them at both state and national levels.

DUBAWA found the claim misleading. Source tracing revealed the video was recorded during a 2022 radio interview with Lagelu FM, after Adelabu left the APC to contest the governorship under another party. Furthermore, the translated Yoruba commentary shows he made no explicit call for voters to reject the APC, but rather argued that candidates should be evaluated on their individual merits. Read the full details here.

An X post circulating claims that thousands of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) members recently defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State. The post included a 30-second clip showing crowd members throwing red Kwankwansiyya-style caps onto a rally stage, framed as evidence of a fresh mass political realignment ahead of upcoming elections.

We confirmed the video is misleading. Key visual details—such as rally attendees wearing yellow caps emblazoned with “2023”—and reverse image searches traced the footage back to a February 2023 campaign rally for APC gubernatorial aspirant Nasiru Yusuf. 

Facebook users shared a video claiming it shows Abuja youth at a rally to support Peter Obi after Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike asserted APC dominance in the territory. The post included a video showing a crowd chanting Obi’s name with Labour Party banners and placards, amassing hundreds of thousands of views and sparking debate over its authenticity.

A DUBAWA fact-check traced the video to an earlier event. Visual evidence in the clip—including a banner referencing Cross River State—and digital archives confirmed that the footage captures a 2022 Labour Party rally in Calabar, Cross River State, well ahead of the current political cycle. 

Click here to read the full report.

Like the Abuja video, another social media post recently circulated, claiming to show a political rally for Peter Obi in Imo State. Shared on Facebook, the video was captioned as a live broadcast of a fresh campaign gathering in Owerri ahead of the 2027 general elections. The post generated thousands of views, shares, and comments from supporters discussing the upcoming polls.

However, we found the claim misleading and the footage recycled. Find our full analysis here.

Some Facebook users shared a video purportedly showing President Bola Tinubu announcing plans to release IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu and calling for an end to the South-East sit-at-home directive. The post, which amassed millions of views, featured footage of the President addressing a crowd with audio alleging he had directed federal authorities to begin legal processes for Kanu’s release.

Our fact-check confirmed the video is false and digitally manipulated. Source tracing showed the original clip was recorded during Tinubu’s address at President John Mahama’s inauguration in Ghana in January 2025, where no mention of Kanu was made.