Festus Keyamo, a spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress, shared a video alongside claims that it was produced by the Labour Party. The video has been viewed more than 2 million times and has garnered thousands of reactions.

“This is the political party saying only their figures were accurate but other political parties rigged. It is the barefaced lies and audacity with which they carry on their propaganda that is very befuddling! They will soon discover the difference b/w propaganda & judicial analyses,” he said in a caption for the video.

Verification

The CDD Election War Room examined the video and discovered that it is a pre-election drill involving sample ballot papers. Watermarks that read “specimen” were prominently inked on the ballot papers that were being thumb printed.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) frequently provides sample ballots to political parties and other stakeholders. This enables them to educate the electorate on how to vote properly and accurately on election day, as well as how to avoid casting an invalid vote. 

INEC stated in 2019 through its Director of Voter Education that specimen ballot papers differ from the originals because they lack the security features that the originals have. 

In the weeks leading up to the election, the Labour Party held a series of voter education events, which were widely shared on social media. 

Verdict

The claim that the video shows the Labour Party coercing Nigerians to vote and manipulating votes in the party’s favour is false.