Ahead of the off-cycle elections scheduled for November 11, 2023, in Kogi state, there have been unverified narratives circulating over the logistics plans of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). These controversies include rumours circulating on social media with speculations that election materials will not be deployed to some polling units with the intent to...
Tag: Nigeria 2023
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FACT CHECK: How true is claim that heavy military presence is ploy to rig Imo governorship election?
Recently various videos depicting a convoy of military officers in Imo state began trending on messaging app Whatsapp. One of the videos shared was from Orsu local government area of the state. Various narratives have accompanied the viral video some of which are that the Imo Government allegedly invited the military to help it rig...
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FACT CHECK: 195 feared dead as Appeal court affirms LP candidate winner of Reps seat?
A news report is circulating on social media with the headline, “195 fear dead, As Appeal Court Affirms Labour Party Candidate As Winner Of House Of Reps Seat”. The report, retrieved from the instant messaging platform, WhatsApp, was published by a news blog known as Famous Reporters on November 2, 2023. Claim: 195 feared dead...
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FACT CHECK: Has Kogi State Police Commissioner, Onuoha Been transferred?
There is a circulating claim on WhatsApp that the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, Bethrand Onuoha, has been transferred to another state. One of CDD’s trained “soldiers of mouth” in Kogi State spotted the claim and shared it for verification. This claim is of concern because it comes at a time voters in Kogi...
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FACT SHIELD: Muri, Yahaya and Restraining Orders
There is a viral message circulating on various social media platforms claiming that a federal high court has issued an injunction preventing all security agencies in the country from apprehending or detaining Murtala Ajaka, the gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State. This has raised questions regarding why a restraining order...
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FACT CHECK: How true is the claim that bandits have asked all churches in Nigeria to shut down?
A video is making the rounds on social media with the claim that bandits have issued threat letters in which they have ordered all churches in Nigeria to shut down. The video, which was retrieved from WhatsApp on Sunday, October 29, 2023, shows a social media influencer with the alias Edobabe, alongside a clip of...
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FACT-CHECK: Is Justice Tsammani battling prostate cancer, confined to wheelchair?
Multiple reports circulating online claim that Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani, head of the five-man panel of the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), is battling prostate cancer and has been confined to a wheelchair. This is coming barely two months after the PEPC delivered its judgement on the petitions filed by Peter Obi, candidate of...
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FACT CHECK: Is this video evidence of collection of PVC in exchange for palliatives in Owerri West?
During the week an X (formerly Twitter) user accused political actors in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of compelling voters to hand in their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in exchange for palliative items. The user posted a video claiming this amounts to voter inducement ahead of the November 11, governorship poll in Imo State....
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FACT CHECK: Did Supreme Court bar foreign media outlets from the hearing on Obi, Atiku’s appeals?
A news report is circulating online, claiming that foreign media outlets were prohibited from attending the hearing of the appeals filed by Peter Obi; presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), and Atiku Abubakar; presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the Supreme Court of Nigeria. The report, with the headline, “SUPREME COURT...
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FACT CHECK: How true is claim by LP’s Achonu that events no longer hold in Orlu zone, Imo?
Athan Achonu, the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party for the November 11 off-cycle governorship election in Imo state, recently had an interview on national TV where he spoke about issues bordering on the internal wranglings of the party and the security situation in the state. During the interview, Achonu made multiple claims regarding the...