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Overview of Key Issues in the Pre-Election Period for the June 18, 2022 Ekiti State Governorship Election (Pre-Election Press Statement)
The first of two off cycle governorship elections for 2022 will be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ekiti State, on June 18, 2022. The election is the seventh in the state since the return of the current democratic dispensation in 1999. Following a 2010 Court of Appeal verdict, which removed then Governor Segun Oni, and declared Dr. Kayode Fayemi the rightful winner of the 2007 governorship election, Ekiti became one of several states holding off cycle governorship elections. The June 18, 2022 Ekiti State gubernatorial election is the very first to be conducted under the amended Electoral Act, 2022.As voters in Ekiti State head to the polls for tomorrow’s governorship election, the contest is apparently shaping up to be a three horse race involving the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which has clearly emerged as a third force in the election. CDD observes that there are 16 political parties fielding candidates for the election. Only two candidates and seven deputy governorship candidates are women, just as the age range of the candidates indicate low participation of the youth.
The CDD EAC will be closely observing the electoral process with the objective of collecting data to support evidence-based analysis of key aspects of the Ekiti State governorship election. The CDD EAC will also host a fake news hub for the purpose of tracking and countering fake news and misinformation as it affects the election.
Pre-Election Observations
Based on the observation of the CDD EAC in the pre-election period, the following are the key trends, which have underlined the process.
CDD notes that the June 18, 2022 Ekiti State Governorship election is significant because it will serve as the first dress rehearsal as the INEC prepares for the 2023 general elections. The election will also be the first to be conducted under the Electoral Act, 2022, and the new INEC guidelines and regulations for conduct of elections. CDD EAC further notes that although INEC has made commitments to conduct a credible election in Ekiti State, its success in this regard would depend on its neutrality, professionalism and the level of its understanding and commitment to the new legal framework. The credibility of the process would also depend on how well INEC uses some of its new powers as derived from the extant electoral law, especially the power conferred on the Commission to delay the release of election results, if the Commission needs to take a second look.
The CDD EAC is concerned about violence, money politics and violations of incumbency powers and the possible effects of these on the credibility of the election. CDD EAC notes that Ekiti State, has recorded several incidents of violence during previous elections. In the build up to the 2022 governorship election, pockets of election-related violence have been recorded in places like Ado Ekiti, Efon Alaiye, Oye, Ido/Osi and Oye Ekiti. Other observable issues, which would shape the credibility of the election include; how well INEC is able to effectively deploy technology, particularly the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), impartial security provisioning, the quality of results management, curtailing the role of money, incumbency and god fatherism in the election. Also critical is the need for stakeholders in the election to proactively track, and counter fake news and misinformation. Already, the pre-election period has witnessed the spread of fake news capable of undermining voter confidence and participation in the process. An example is the fake news which trended recently on a purported Appeal Court decision nullifying the primaries of one of the major political parties and, by extension, its candidate.
In terms of some of the election risk factor, CDD notes that the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU) has crippled the local economy especially in university towns in Ekiti State. This has created a threat in terms of the availability of idle youth being recruited for activities, which could undermine the credibility of the election. By grounding the local economy, the strike has also created the wrong incentives as voters are more likely to see the election as an opportunity for economic survival, thereby exacerbating the risk of vote buying. This becomes even more relevant when it is considered that Ekiti State introduced the issue of “stomach infrastructure” into the Nigerian political lexicon. CDD has also observed that based on history of past violence in elections in the state, the following Local Government Areas, constitute potential flash points in the election; Ado Ekiti, Efon Alaiye, Ido/Osi, and Oye.
Signed:
Professor Adele Jinadu
Chair, CDD EAC
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FACT CHECK: Did Femi Falana Say Kogi Central Is An Election Robbery Center?
On November 20, 2023, a claim was attributed to Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria. The claim concerning the just-concluded gubernatorial election in Kogi state went viral on WhatsApp. Falana allegedly said Kogi Central Senatorial District is the election robbery center in the just-concluded governorship election.
Verification
The CDD War Room traced the origin of the claim to an online news platform, “The Observers.” We found that the platform published the story on November 20, 2023, and credited the claim to the interview granted by Falana on Channels Television.
We found the interview granted on Sunday Politics, a flagship programme of Channels Television, where the Senior Advocate spoke extensively on the just-concluded election across the three states, the judgements delivered by the Appeal Court over the week and other issues relating to the election and judiciary in Nigeria.
The CDD War Room found that in the 49:41 minutes-long interview, there was no place where Falana referred to Kogi Central as the election robbery centre. The only instance where he mentioned Kogi Central was when he said, “You saw what happened in Kogi, in Kogi Central, where results and ballot papers had been pre-thumb-printed, and when they were brought, the voters protested. Now, that has nothing to do with the Independent National Electoral Commission. This was just the act of politicians who have no respect for the democratic rights of the people. But again, the votes were counted. So what do you make of that?…… These are the problems we have to address.”
We found that the online news website where the claim originated from, quoted the part of the interview where Falana raised the electoral malpractice recorded in Kogi Central where ballot papers had been pre-thumb-printed before voting commenced. However, there was nowhere in the interview where the Senior Advocate made the claim of that the area is an election robbery centre.
Verdict: FALSE
The CDD War Room found that Femi Falana granted an interview on Channels Television where he berated the electoral malpractice recorded in Kogi Central. However, he didn’t refer to Kogi Central as the election robbery centre during the November 11 Governorship election.
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FACT CHECK: Votes scored by APC candidate in Okene and Okehi LGA surpass the PVCs collected
Days after the governorship election in Kogi state, leading to the announcement of Usman Ahmed Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the elected governor, the CDD War Room received several claims concerning the November 11 governorship election.
On November 15, 2023, a Facebook user posted an image of the INEC chairman with the claim that “ PVCs collected in Okene is 131,000 plus, APC scored 138,000 plus in Okene and PVCs collected in Okehi is 82,000 plus and APC scored 101,000 plus..we want all Nigerians to see this criminal declaration of APC in Kogi state. by INEC.”
The essence of this claim is that there was over-voting in the just-concluded gubernatorial election as the number of votes surpassed the number of permanent voters cards (PVCs) collected in the two Local Government Areas.
Claim I: The number of PVCs collected in Okene LGA is 131,000, while APC scored 138,000
Verification:
Section 52 (2) of the Electoral Act 2022 states that “where the number of votes cast at an election in any polling unit exceeds the number of accredited voters in that polling unit, the Presiding officer shall cancel the result of the election in that polling unit.”
By this section of the Electoral Act, should the number of votes cast surpass the number of accredited voters or PVCs collcted, that is considered over-voting and such result will be canceled.
According to the claim, the number of votes allegedly scored by APC is more than the PVCs collected and the number of accredited voters.
There are 11 wards that make up 283 polling units in Okene LGA of Kogi State. According to the figures released by INEC showing the breakdown of polling units in Kogi state, Okene LGA has 151,243 registered voters while 149,085 among them, collected their PVCs ahead of the November 11 governorship election.
In Okene LGA, the APC candidate scored 138,416, followed by the PDP and SDP candidate who polled 1,463 AND 275 votes respectively.
Verdict: FALSE
The CDD War Room can confirm that the number of collected PVCs and the votes scored by APC according to the claim is false. We found that the number of PVCs collected in Okene LGA ahead of the gubernatorial election stood at 149, 085 while APC had 138,416 of the vote cast.
Claim II: The number of PVCs collected in Okehi LGA is 82,000, while APC scored 101,000
Verification:
In Okehi LGA, there are 11 wards making up 188 polling units. According to the figures released by INEC, Okehi LGA has 94, 456 registered voters while 91,977 collected their PVCs ahead of the November 11 governorship election.
According to the results retrieved from the IREV portal and released by INEC, the number of accredited voters in Okehi LGA was 57,243. In the election, the APC candidate scored 53,062 while the PDP and SDP scored 2,722 and 153 respectively.
Verdict: FALSE
The CDD War Room can confirm that the number of collected PVCs and the votes scored by APC according to the claim is false. We found that the number of PVCs collected in Okehi LGA ahead of the gubernatorial election stood at 91,977 while APC had 53,062 of the vote cast. Therefore, there was no over voting.
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FACT CHECK: INEC fixes November 18 for Fresh Elections in 59 Polling Units in Kogi
On November 12, while collation and declaration was ongoing at the INEC state collation centre in Lokoja, Kogi state, we received a claim that the electoral umpire had fixed November 18 for fresh election in 59 polling units in the state.
Claim: INEC fixes November 18 for fresh polls in 59 polling units in Kogi state
Verification
On November 12, 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), through a National commissioner and a member of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, announced the suspension of elections in 59 polling units in Kogi state.
Similarly, the Kogi state returning officer, while collating the results of the just concluded gubernatorial election in the state, said that it would conduct fresh elections in 59 polling units where irregularities were recorded.
According to the State Returning Officer, Prof Johnson Urama, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He said fresh polls would be conducted in 59 polling units, including Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area (where we reported pre-filled result sheets) of the state on November 18, 2023.
However, he introduced a condition for the polls to be held in the 59 polling units, saying that “the decision to hold fresh elections is subject to the Returning Officer’s determination of the application of the Margin of Lead Principle”.
Later in the day, when all votes were collated, Prof Urama said he would apply the application of the Margin of Lead Principle.
This principle means that if the margin between the candidate with the highest valid votes and the first runner-up is more than the number of voters where the fresh elections will be held, the fresh polls may no longer be necessary as their vote will be insignificant to change the outcome of the election.
That is, the total number of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the affected polling units was put at 16,247, insignificant to the about 200,000 votes gathered by the APC candidate ahead of his closest rival – Ajaka.
The margin of lead implied that the elections initially scheduled by INEC for next Saturday in the 59 polling units would no longer be held.
He went ahead to declare Ahmed Ododo of the APC as the elected governor of Kogi state, having satisfied the requirement of the law and was elected.
Having collated and announced the results from 21 local government areas (LGAs) in the state, Ododo of the APC won with 446,237 votes, defeating his closest rival, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who scored 259,052, while Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 46,362 votes.
Verdict: TRUE
We found that INEC announced that there would be a fresh poll in 59 polling units where the exercise was earlier suspended in Kogi state. However, the state returning officer announced that the polls would no longer be necessary due to his determination of the application of the Margin of Lead Principle.
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FACT CHECK: INEC plans to move the collation of Brass Local Government to Yenagoa?
On November 12, 2023, just 24 hours after the conclusion of voting in the gubernatorial election and while collation was still ongoing, a claim surfaced that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had intended to relocate the collation of results for Brass Local Government Area (LGA) to Yenagoa, the state capital.
Claim: INEC has moved the collation of Brass LGA results to Yenogoa
Verification:
The CDD War Room contacted our soldiers of mouth in Brass LGA, who confirmed that all election results collated at the ward levels had been taken to the INEC office in Yenagoa.
They said the INEC cited security reasons for the change in the collation centre from Brass LGA to the state capital.
We found a statement signed by Felix Morka, the All Progressives Congress (APC) publicity secretary, titled “BAYELSA GUBER POLL: APC CONDEMNS ATTEMPTS TO MOVE COLLATION OF BRASS LGA TO YENAGOA”
Morka stated that the change of the collation centre to Yenogoa is one of the “brazen efforts by Duoye Diri and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to unlawfully and unduly pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to move collation of results of Brass Local Government Area to Yenagoa, the State capital.”
We reached out to INEC officials for an official statement on the movement of collation to the INEC office in Yenagoa. However, we could not get any response from INEC. An APC agent at the INEC collation centre also raised the issue during questions and comments time.
Verdict: TRUE
We can confirm that the INEC officials have moved the coalition from Brass LGA to the INEC office in Yenagoa.
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FACT CHECK: Was Labour Party agent assaulted at Imo collation centre for complaining about irregularities?
A video of the Labour Party (LP) representative being beaten up at the Imo state collation centre has been trending.
The video accompanies narratives that the representative was beaten for speaking against the electoral process.
CDD fact checked this claim to determine it’s veracity.
Claim: Labour Party Rep. beaten at the Imo collation centre in Imo?
Verification
The CDD War Room traced the video to a broadcast from Channels Television. In the video, the representative of the Party, along with others, was seen challenging the electoral process and insisting that elections did not take place in Orsu Local Government Area (LGA) in Imo West.
Following the challenge by the LP representative and others to the electoral process in Orsu LGA of Imo West, the situation escalated, leading to the beating of the party representative. Some individuals present attempted to remove him from the center amid the tense circumstances.
The incident was also reported by other media organisations such as TVC, Leadership and Vanguard amongst others.
Verdict: True
The CDD War Room can confirm through various media reports that a Labour Party representative was beaten up and bundled out of the collation centre in Imo state. He was attacked while he stood up to express his grievance against the ongoing collation exercise.
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FACT CHECK: Are thugs disrupting elections In Kolokuma/Opukuma, Bayelsa?
Numerous facebook users have claimed that thugs associated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were preventing supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from voting.
According to the post, these thugs prevented the opposition party by intimidating them with guns and violence.
Claim: Thugs hired by PDP are chasing APC not to vote in Kolokuma/Opukuma LGA
Verification
CDD War Room spoke with our observers and soldiers of mouth who debunked the claim. They noted that elections in Kolokuma/Opukuma LGA were going on smoothly.
Verdict: FALSE
Reports from CDD field observers and soldiers of mouth have described this claim as false.
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FACT CHECK: Has SDP’s Muri Ajaka been disqualified due to deputy’s certificate issue?
On November 11, 2023, the CDD War Room received a claim that Muritala Ajaka, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) texted his supporters that he has been disqualified due to his running mate, Sam Ranti-Abenemi’s certificate issue.
The alleged text message reads “They have done their worse. I have been disqualified bcos of Sam Abenemis certificate issue. Our votes must not waste, vote for my former party, APC.
They have done their worse. I have been disqualified bcos of Sam Abenemis certificate issue. Our votes must not waste, vote for my former party, APC.”
Claim: SDP’s Muritala Ajaka has been disqualified due to running mate’s certificate issue
Verification:
It will be recalled that in the build up to the election, the Kogi government had filed a suit against Sam Ranti-Abenemi, the running mate of the SDP governorship candidate, Muritala Ajaka, for allegedly submitting a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He allegedly submitted a GCE O’Level certificate to INEC, for the upcoming governorship poll in the state.
The state government, through the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Badama Kadiri, had charged Abenemi with perjury, false declaration, use of false documents as genuine and possession of a forged 1979 Ordinarily Level Certificate tendered in his Form EC9 to INEC.
However, the case took a twist when the counsel to the accused, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), raised two motions that the court should quash the charge against Sam Abenemi, and a motion for the judge to recuse himself from the case.
After listening to the arguments of both parties on the said motion, Justice Ibrahim reserved ruling till a date to be communicated to the parties.
Therefore, the court has not made a pronouncement to disqualify or uphold the candidacy of Sam Abenemi, the running mate of the SDP ticket.
Verdict: FALSE
The CDD War Room found that the judge has reserved judgment on the certificate issue of Sam Abenemi, the running mate to Muritala Ajaka of SDP. We can confirm that both Muri and Abenemi are still in the race and remain the candidates of the SDP in the gubernatorial election.
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FACT CHECK: Did Gunmen disrupt electoral process in Southern Ijaw and Sagbama LGA, Bayelsa?
Reports making round on social media suggests that electoral process in Southern Ijaw and Sagbama LGA were disrupted by gunmen in Bayelsa state.
According to the reports, the thugs first struck at Agorogbene units 6, 7, and 8 in Ward 11 of Southern Ijaw, leading to the destruction of election materials.
The armed group according to the report later targeted the Registration Area Center, carting away election materials from five out of seven polling units. Similarly, the gunmen were said to have also disrupted the election process in Southern Ijaw and Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa State, taking control of election materials.
Claim: Election process in Southern Ijaw and Sagbama LGA, Bayelsa disrupted by thugs
Verification
CDD War Room found various reports that confirmed this reports. The reports also documented other incidents of violence in various parts of the states.
Verdict: TRUE
CDD War Room has confirmed this claim to be true.
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FACT CHECK: How true is claim that there was no election anywhere in Orsu LGA, Imo state?
On November 11, 2023, a Twitter user posted a video with the caption, “I told you guys there was no election anywhere in Orsu LGA in Imo West. This is the result manufacture process now in motion for @Hope_Uzodimma1 & @OfficialAPCNg
under the active stewardship of @inecnigeria officials. If you don’t like it, as they say, #GoToCourt! This is part of the #CrimeScene in Orsu LGA of Imo State engineered by @inecnigeria & @Hope_Uzodimma1 & @OfficialAPCNg. #ImoBleeds2023.”
Claim I: There was no election anywhere in Orsu LGA , Imo state
The CDD War Room reached out to our soldiers of mouth, who confirmed that the election did not hold in six polling units in Amaruru ward, Orsu LGA. He said no election was conducted in Amaruru ward of Orsu LGA as there were no INEC officials in sight and no voter turnout in thesethese polling units.
According to our soldiers of mouth, some of the polling units include Community Primary School III (OO3), Obi Amaokwe (0010, Ama Ozokwere (001), Ama Udoyibo (008), Ama Ozokwere (011), Ama Ajagwu (012) and Community School I (006).
A similar incident was recorded in Eziawa ward of Orsu LGA. The polling units where we recorded no voting activity included: Comprehensive Secondary School Eziawa (001), Community primary school 2, Eziawa1 (002), Community school 1 Eziawa1(006), Community School 3 Eziawa1(004).
Similarly, we were informed that the INEC announced that all elections that were supposed to be held in the various wards in Orsu LGA were centralized and conducted at All Saints Catholic Church, Amaebu, Ebenator Ward. Our soldiers of mouth said even though the directive was unofficial, the electoral umpire cited security reasons.
Verdict: ALL WE KNOW
The CDD soldiers of mouth confirmed that elections that were supposed to be held at various wards in Orsu LGA were centralized and held at All Saints Catholic Church, Amaebu, Ebenator Ward, Imo state.
Claim II: The video attached shows result manufacturing process is ongoing in a Catholic church in Orsu LGA
Verification:
CDD War Room also evaluated the video and could not verify the allegation that people in the video were thumb printing for the APC. Some of the people shown in the video were wearing INEC reflective jackets, while others were seeing holding BVAS devices. Notwithstanding that the narrator was alleging massive thumb printing of ballot papers, the claim could not be substantiated after repeatedly watching the footage. We also reached out to our soldiers of mouth who could not establish that the video was taken from a Catholic church in Imo state.
Even though the voting for the wards in Orsu took place at All Saints Catholic Church, Amaebu, Ebenator Ward, our checks could not validate the claim that the people seen in the video were “manufacturing results.” . Hence, there is no evidence to substantiate the claim that the circulated video documented malpractices going on in Orsu LGA, Imo state.
Verdict: NO EVIDENCE
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FACT CHECK: Does viral video show arrest of LGA chairman over posession of ammunition and cash in Kogi state?
Amid the ongoing off-cycle governorship election in Kogi state, a video clip is making the rounds on social media with the claim that a local government chairman was arrested along with other suspects with ammunition and cash in the state.
An X user posted the video alongside the caption, “Breaking news ; Yahaya Bello of Kogi State thugs and Igalamela LG chairman arrested with Guns, millions of naira and live ammunition.” The post has since garnered over 1,000 views, 35 retweets and 46 likes.
Screenshot of the video on X The same video was also posted by Naija Election on Instagram with the caption, “LIVE FROM KOGI Igalamela-Odolu LGA Chairman busted his morning with arms, ammunition, charms, cash etc. Goldmynetv also shared the video on Instagram.
Claim: Video shows Igalamela LGA chairman arrested with ammunition and cash in Kogi state
Verification
We contacted CDD soldiers of mouth and they confirmed that the video shows the moment when the chairman of Igalamela LGA was arrested by law enforcement officers in Kogi state.
Verdict: TRUE
