On October 7, 2025, a Facebook post by AIF Media claimed that Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, had ordered the Commissioner for Education to shut down all private schools in the state. The post alleged that teachers, parents, and proprietors were instructed to assemble at Ekwueme Square, Awka, on Tuesday, October 8, 2025, to endorse the governor ahead of the forthcoming election. The post further claimed that these groups were being compelled to attend against their will, describing it as an act of political desperation.

CLAIM: Governor Soludo ordered the closure of all private schools in Anambra State for an endorsement rally at Ekwueme Square, Awka.

VERIFICATION

The CDD War Room investigated the claim that Governor Soludo ordered the closure of all private schools in Anambra State for a political endorsement rally. Findings show that while the Anambra State Government did declare Tuesday, October 8, 2025, a school-free day, the purpose was not for a political rally but to commemorate World Teachers’ Day, which coincided with a Sunday this year. October 6, 2025, The Punch Newspapers reported that the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, announced the day off to honour teachers across the state. She stated that the event would take place at Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, and was part of the annual Teachers’ Day celebration, not a campaign endorsement rally.

A further report by Legit.ng published on October 6, 2025, corroborated that the Commissioner invited teachers, parents, and school proprietors to the venue for a formal celebration recognising educators’ contributions. The report made no mention of any political mobilisation or directive to endorse the governor.

In addition, checks across reputable media outlets such as Vanguard News, and Tribune Online  revealed no reports suggesting that schools were shut down for political reasons or that teachers, parents, or pupils were coerced into attending a political event. No official circular, government directive, or eyewitness account indicates that the Teachers’ Day gathering was used as an endorsement rally. The claim by AIF Media therefore appears to have misrepresented a legitimate Teachers’ Day commemoration as a political event. Such framing lacks factual backing and is inconsistent with verified media and official records.

VERDICT: FALSE

CDD War Room found no credible evidence to support the claim that Governor Soludo ordered the closure of private schools in Anambra State for an endorsement rally. Verified information shows that the school-free day was declared to mark World Teachers’ Day, not to mobilise political support. The allegation originated from a partisan social media post and remains false and misleading.