The number of active social media users in Nigeria has risen from 27 million, in 2019, to 36 million ahead of the 2023 elections. But given the challenge of prevailing misinformation and disinformation on social media platforms, and the way such disinformation can permeate into the media more generally1, greater access to online information does...
Category: Election
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FACT CHECK: How true are Atiku Abubakar’s claims from the NESG presidential dialogue?
Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, made several claims about corruption and the economy while speaking at the interactive session with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group. In response to a specific question about how he intends to deal with corruption and the international perception of Nigeria as a corrupt country, Atiku mentioned meeting...
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FACT CHECK: Has Adamu Garba abandoned APC to support Peter Obi?
On February 13, 2023, multiple Twitter users claimed Adamu Garba, an APC supporter and member of the Tinubu/Shetima Grassroots Independent Campaign Council, has denounced his membership of the party. Some of the posts further claimed that Garba was set to join the youth in support for the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, stating that the...
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FACT CHECK: Tinubu supporters make multiple false claims on fuel scarcity under PDP, APC govts
As Nigeria’s general elections draw closer, controversies have continued to trail the lingering scarcity of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol across the country. Following the emergence of fuel scarcity which led to long queues at filling stations in major cities across the country, the Independent Petroleum Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), said...
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FACT CHECK: Does video show ‘Tinubu boys’ destroying motorcycles belonging to northerners?
A video has gone viral on Twitter alongside claims that it shows a bulldozer crushing hundreds of motorcycles. The caption of the video suggests that the motorcycles belonged to people from northern Nigeria, and were being destroyed by “Tinubu boys” in Lagos state. Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress...
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FACT CHECK: Did Boko Haram Control Over 22 LGAs under Jonathan?
Sadique Abubakar, governorship candidate of the All Progressive People’s Party (APC) in Bauchi state, said on Channels Television The Verdict that Boko Haram had control over more than 22 local governments under the previous national government. The governorship candidate was invited by the Television station on Thursday, February 9, 2023, where he spoke about his...
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FACT CHECK: Oshiomhole makes false claim about Buhari’s 1984 naira redesign policy
Adams Oshiomhole, deputy director-general of operations for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, has claimed that there was no withdrawal limit when Nigeria’s currency was redesigned in 1984. This is coming in the heat of the latest naira swap policy following the announcement by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to release newly...
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FACT CHECK: Does viral video show Dino Melaye campaigning for Peter Obi?
Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, posted a video via his verified Twitter handle, claiming to show Dino Melaye, a spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council, asking Nigerians to support Peter Obi of the Labour Party. The renowned musician, who is a staunch supporter of Obi, the Labour Party presidential...
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FACT SHIELD: You can be jailed 12 months for printing your PVC
The Nigerian presidential election, scheduled for February 25, is less than 20 days away, yet only roughly 79% of registered voters have their permanent voters card (PVC), which is required by law to vote. As a result of the difficulty encountered by intended voters in obtaining their PVC, many are looking for alternatives that will...
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FACT SHIELD: Few days to election, can a candidate step down? Here’s what the law says…
With the 2022 elections barely 24 days away, there have been various reports of candidates stepping down for other candidates or even alignments and coalitions. These reports have been debated, discarded and sometimes addressed by the candidates. True or not how do these reports affect the political ecosystem? Can a candidate decide to withdraw from...