On November 11, 2023, a Twitter user posted a video with the caption, “I told you guys there was no election anywhere in Orsu LGA in Imo West. This is the result manufacture process now in motion for @Hope_Uzodimma1 & @OfficialAPCNg
under the active stewardship of @inecnigeria officials. If you don’t like it, as they say, #GoToCourt! This is part of the #CrimeScene in Orsu LGA of Imo State engineered by @inecnigeria & @Hope_Uzodimma1 & @OfficialAPCNg. #ImoBleeds2023.”
Claim I: There was no election anywhere in Orsu LGA , Imo state
The CDD War Room reached out to our soldiers of mouth, who confirmed that the election did not hold in six polling units in Amaruru ward, Orsu LGA. He said no election was conducted in Amaruru ward of Orsu LGA as there were no INEC officials in sight and no voter turnout in thesethese polling units.
According to our soldiers of mouth, some of the polling units include Community Primary School III (OO3), Obi Amaokwe (0010, Ama Ozokwere (001), Ama Udoyibo (008), Ama Ozokwere (011), Ama Ajagwu (012) and Community School I (006).
A similar incident was recorded in Eziawa ward of Orsu LGA. The polling units where we recorded no voting activity included: Comprehensive Secondary School Eziawa (001), Community primary school 2, Eziawa1 (002), Community school 1 Eziawa1(006), Community School 3 Eziawa1(004).
Similarly, we were informed that the INEC announced that all elections that were supposed to be held in the various wards in Orsu LGA were centralized and conducted at All Saints Catholic Church, Amaebu, Ebenator Ward. Our soldiers of mouth said even though the directive was unofficial, the electoral umpire cited security reasons.
Verdict: ALL WE KNOW
The CDD soldiers of mouth confirmed that elections that were supposed to be held at various wards in Orsu LGA were centralized and held at All Saints Catholic Church, Amaebu, Ebenator Ward, Imo state.
Claim II: The video attached shows result manufacturing process is ongoing in a Catholic church in Orsu LGA
Verification:
CDD War Room also evaluated the video and could not verify the allegation that people in the video were thumb printing for the APC. Some of the people shown in the video were wearing INEC reflective jackets, while others were seeing holding BVAS devices. Notwithstanding that the narrator was alleging massive thumb printing of ballot papers, the claim could not be substantiated after repeatedly watching the footage. We also reached out to our soldiers of mouth who could not establish that the video was taken from a Catholic church in Imo state.
Even though the voting for the wards in Orsu took place at All Saints Catholic Church, Amaebu, Ebenator Ward, our checks could not validate the claim that the people seen in the video were “manufacturing results.” . Hence, there is no evidence to substantiate the claim that the circulated video documented malpractices going on in Orsu LGA, Imo state.
Verdict: NO EVIDENCE
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