A video clip allegedly showing the Edo State gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday Okpebholo, promising to provide the people with “insecurity” during a campaign has gone viral online.
In an Instagram post shared by Linda Ikeji Blog on Sunday, September 8, 2024, which had garnered over 6,000 likes at the time of retrieval, the clip was captioned: “Adams Oshiomhole taps APC governorship candidate in Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, as he promises to provide Edo indigenes with ‘insecurity’ during the campaign.”
The eight-second clip has been widely circulated by social media users and news media outlets, including The Punch Newspaper and Nigeria Tribune. This has sparked controversies ahead of the September 21 gubernatorial election in the state, with opposition parties questioning the competence of the APC candidate.
Claim: Video shows Edo APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo, promising to provide residents with “insecurity.”
Verification
The CDD War Room traced the origin of the viral short clip to an APC campaign rally held in Ovia-South West LGA, as reported by Independent Television (ITV) on September 5, 2024. Dennis Idahosa, Okpebholo’s running mate, and Adams Oshiomhole, the Edo APC campaign chairman and Senator representing Edo North, also attended the rally. The event was also covered and reported by NTA Benin.
However, neither of these reports included any footage or statements of Okpebholo explicitly promising to provide the people of Edo with “insecurity.”
Further investigation revealed a longer version of the video, shared as a Facebook reel by Felix Eigbefo. In the extended clip, Okpebholo appears to have made a gaffe. While addressing the crowd of supporters, he initially said, “We are going to provide you with insecurity,” but he immediately corrected himself, stating, “We are going to provide you with security. We are going to fight insecurity. We are going to make sure that the evil ones are out of our land. This land does not belong to kidnappers. Do you want them to remain here?”
Verdict: TRUE
CDD War Room confirms that Okpebholo made the gaffe, while speaking at the party’s campaign rally in Edo state, but he immediately corrected himself and clarified that his intention is to address and fight insecurity.
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