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DUBAWA continues to monitor the information ecosystem in Nigeria and beyond. As preparations for the 2027 general elections are underway, misinformation actors have also ramped up efforts. While AI-generated content is being used to misinform, manipulated videos and pictures are not left out. In some cases, genuine information was twisted and used out of context.
In the past week, we fact-checked several claims spanning security, sectionalism, sports, politics, among others.
Below is a summary of the top 5 claims fact-checked last week:
WhatsApp not planning to charge Nigerians N14 per message
A claim went viral in the last week of August 2026 that WhatsApp announced plans to start charging Nigerians N14 for every message. A popular news medium in Nigeria also reported the claim, reaching lots of social media users. DUBAWA’s investigation showed that although WhatsApp indeed disclosed plans to introduce new per-message charges for certain businesses, this does not apply to all Nigerians using WhatsApp. Read more information here to see which set of users are affected.
AI-generated video used to depict foreign military interference in Nigeria
A Facebook user shared a 10-second video showing what appeared to be a group of armed foreign soldiers parading some men described as bandits at an unidentified location. One of the supposed foreign soldiers faced the camera, explaining that his unit had just intercepted armed bandits in a village in Northern Nigeria. This sparked debate on social media regarding foreign interference in Nigeria’s security issues, which prompted DUBAWA to fact-check the claim.
Keyword searches did not return any reports on credible news platforms. Also, there were no such reports on the official pages of Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters and the Nigerian Army. Further findings showed that the video was AI-generated and deliberately used to deceive. More information here.
Video showing Churchill speaking against Igbos AI-generated
Amid the continuous agitation for a Biafran nation, DUBAWA observed that some social media accounts have been dedicated to spreading false narratives that speak to the alleged marginalisation of the Igbo people. Recently, a video went viral online showing late British Prime Minister Winston Churchill saying Ahmadu Bello was chosen to rule Nigeria because the Igbos were ‘intransigent and unconquerable’.
In the video, Churchill reportedly said, “So you Igbo people think that we the British people are against you. Tell me why we won’t be against you? When we came to Nigeria, every tribe bowed to us, and we ruled them. It was only through indirect rule that we could lead you.”
However, DUBAWA found that the video was AI-generated from a photo. Search results traced it to an Art UK listing for a 1946 portrait of Sir Winston Churchill by Oswald Hornby Joseph Birley, held in the Parliamentary Art Collection. Read more on this here.
Video of Akpabio announcing lawmaker’s resignation from APC used in wrong context
Last week, a social media user shared a video of Senate President Godswill Akpabio allegedly reading ‘his own’ letter of resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Akpabio was heard saying, “I write to formally tender my resignation letter from the APC effective today. This decision has not been taken lightly…”
There were interesting reactions to the post. Some users claimed the video might have been AI-generated, while others believed Akpabio had indeed tendered his resignation. However, DUBAWA’s findings showed that the video was original but taken out of context. Akpabio was simply reading another Senator’s resignation letter. Read more on this here.
Davido has not endorsed Peter Obi for president
A Facebook page, Orange Comedy, recently claimed that popular Nigerian musician David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, had endorsed Peter Obi for president ahead of the 2027 election. This trailed Davido’s evident support for Governor Ademola Adeleke’s campaign activities during the last Osun election.
The user further claimed that Davido had not only endorsed Obi but also urged his followers to vote for the NDC presidential candidate in the forthcoming presidential election. DUBAWA’s research, however, showed that the musician made no such statements and had explicitly stated that he had not endorsed any presidential candidate. The musician also maintained that he was yet to see anyone he was personally motivated to support. Read more on this here.