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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: Does video show INEC officials with already filled result sheets in Imo state?
A video is circulating online with the claim that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were caught with already filled result sheets in the ongoing 2023 off-cycle governorship election in Imo state.
The video, posted by a verified X user, Somto Okonkwo, had garnered over 13,000 views, 282 retweets, and 175 likes, as of when it was retrieved from the micro-blogging platform.
Okonkwo captioned the video, “INEC Election Fraud: Look At What They Are Doing For Hope Uzodinma In Imo State. Results Written Before Bringing It To The Polling Unit. #IMODecides2023.”
Claim: Video shows the moment when INEC officials were caught with already filled election result sheets in Imo state.
Screenshot of the video on X Verification
While we observed the poor quality of the video, we critically assessed the content of the video to ascertain the accuracy of the claim. We found that one of the INEC documents placed on the table shows that the video was taken during the 2023 Rivers state governorship election which was held on March 18.
Verdict: FALSE
The claim that the video shows the moment INEC officials were caught with already-filled election results in Imo state, is false. The CDD War Room can confirm that the video was taken during the March 18 governorship election in Rivers State.
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FACT CHECK: Was alleged ballot box snatcher gunned down in Anyingba, Kogi state?
On November 11, 2023, as the voting process started in the Kogi State governorship election CDD War Room received a claim that an alleged ballot box snatcher had been gunned down in Anyingba.
We received a similar claim posted by a Facebook user. He said, “Anyigba ballot snatcher gunned down by military… now now … Be warned.”
Attached to the claim is a picture of a man in a pool of blood on a road path.
Verification:
Anyigba is a town in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi state.
The CDD War Room reached out to our soldiers of mouth, who confirmed that the ballot box snatcher was gunned down at a polling unit in Agala Ogane, Ayingba, Kogi state. CDD War Room can confirm that the middle-aged man was shot, and he was found lying down beside a ballot box filled with ballot papers with thumb print of voters. Although we could not ascertain the identity the alleged ballot box snatcher, we can confirm that the claim that he was gunned down is factual.
Verdict: TRUE
The CDD War Room can confirm that an alleged ballot box snatcher was gunned down at Agala Ogane, Ayingba, Kogi state. The man was reportedly shot while running away with the ballot box.
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FACT CHECK: Was MTN network switched off In Imo state?
With the start of accreditation and voting in the Imo State governorship election, reports have been circulating on social media alleging that the Imo state government in collaboration with telecoms network provider MTN, switched off the network access in the state.
Verification
To ascertain if the claim has any factual basis, CDD War Room contacted various field obsevers deployed to the 27 Local Governemnt Areas (LGA) of the state to confirm if network has been shut down. All CDD observes and soldiers of mouth using the network who spoke with us had a seamless call. Also CDD War Room checks showed internet service in all LGA’s in the state were functional.
Additionally we spoke with MTN regarding the claim. The telecoms service provider debunked the claim, stressing that the company does not shut down its networks, whether on election day or during any other activity.
Verdict: False
CDD War Room spoke with observers, Soldiers of Mouth and MTN who categorically debunked the claim as false.
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FACT CHECK: Did thugs shoot younger brother of APC’s chieftain in Famgbe community, Bayelsa?
A Facebook post is circulating with the claim that thugs shot Ovie Ogbara, who is said to be the younger brother of Benjamin Ogbara, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Famgbe community, Bayelsa state. The claim is circulating few hours after the off-cycle governorship election commenced in Bayelsa state.
Screenshot of the Facebook post Claim: Thugs shot the younger brother of APC’s chieftain in Famgbe community, Bayelsa state
Verification
The CDD War Room contacted one of our observers on the field, who confirmed to us that the incident actually happened. The victim is reported to have been rushed to the Federal Medical Center in Yenagoa.
CDD War Room also contacted the Bayelsa State Police public relations officer, Asinim Andrew. He said he was yet to confirm the incident.
Verdict: ALL WE KNOW
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FACT CHECK: Is Naval Commander, Charles Akalieze being detained over alleged genocide in Kogi?
A news report being circulated online claims that Charles Akalieze, a commander of the Nigerian Navy in Kogi state, has been detained at the Defence Headquarters for genocide. The news, retrieved from WhatsApp and archived here, was published by a blog named PointBlankInsight on November 9, 2023.
The headline of the news reads, “Breaking News: Gov. Yahaya Bello Deadly Navy Commander Charles Akalieze Detained by Defence Headquarters for Genocide.”
Screenshot of the viral news on WhatsApp “Again, The Naval Officer, Commander Charles Akalieze who led the Makama-led armed thugs in kogi state that killed Three police men and seven civilians in Ayingba, Dekina local government area of kogi state on the 7th of November 2023 has been arrested and detained in Defence Headquarters on the orders of the Chief of Defence Staff.
This comes as rival politicians in Kogi State trade accusations about violence in the build up to today’s off cycle governorship poll in Kogi State.
Claim: Navy commander, Charles Akalieze has been detained for genocide
Verification
We found two additional news reports published by PointBlankInsight on November 9, 2023. Both reports share the same content as the one circulating on WhatsApp but have slightly different headlines. The first report, archived here, is titled ‘Yahaya Bello Deadly Blood Sucker, Navy Commander Charles Akalieze Detained.’
The second report, archived here, has the headline ‘Yahaya Bello Deadly Blood Sucker, Navy Commander Charles Akalieze Detained by Force Headquarters for Murdered Case.’
Further check shows that the web address, pointblankinsight.com.ng, was created on September 18, 2023.
On Tuesday, November 7, 2023, Daily Trust reported that the Igala Vanguard called on Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu, for the immediate reassignment of Charles Akalieze and his special task force in Kogi state. The Nation Newspaper also reported the development on Wednesday, November 8, 2023.
According to the reports, the group accused Akalezie of engaging in actions harmful to the well-being of Kogi people. Furthermore, we found an interview granted by Natasha Akpoti, posted by News Central on November 7, 2022.
In the interview, Akpoti, who at the time was the Peoples Democratic Party’s senatorial candidate for Kogi Central, alleged that Akaleize was a hitman for Yahyah Bello, the governor of Kogi state. She added that Akaleize had been transferred from the state following several petitions against him.
Akpoti said, ‘We have over 20 people that were killed by this gentleman, extra-judicial killings… For once, I’m proud of the Nigerian Navy and the Police because they seem to look into the petitions, and Lieutenant Charles Akaleize has been transferred out of Kogi state. The good news just got to me today.”
Even though Sahara Reporters reported on November 9, 2023, that an undisclosed military source confirmed the arrest of a Nigerian Navy commander, Nicholas Uchendu Akalezi, and 10 other naval personnel for alleged violent activities in Kogi state, we found no credible media reports that Charles Akalieze has been detained for genocide.
Verdict: ALL WE KNOW
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FACT CHECK: Is this Picture Of APC Sponsored Militant?
As voters begin the process of exercising their democratic right in the off-cycle elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo states, there has been a noticeable surge in the dissemination of disinformation. One of the CDD War Room’s “soldiers of mouth” in Bayelsa State has identified and shared a widely circulated post alleging the apprehension of a thug supposedly sponsored by “Ngor Syval and Victor Isaiah of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
The post in question reads, “Breaking News: APC Militants with Guns and Money were Caught!!! They were mobilized by; Ngor Sylva/ Victor Isaiah, Military has Declared curfew 5:30 pm in Brassiga Island.”
Claim 1: Is the picture attached to the post depicting an APC militant caught with guns and money?
Verification:
Our CDD War Room conducted a forensic check of the picture, starting with a Google reverse image search. The search revealed that this image is associated with a recently published news report by the Daily Post. The report covered an incident in Abia State where an individual was apprehended in November for the alleged rape of a 5-year-old girl.
The second and third images were also subjected to a Google image search, leading us to the discovery that these images originated from a Twitter account named “Zagazola Makama.” This account is recognized for sharing security analyses related to insurgency in the Lake Chad and West Africa.
Verdict:
The claim that APC militants were caught with guns and money is unequivocally false. The images presented do not align with the claim made in the post.Claim 2:
Did the military declare curfew in Brass Island?Verification:
The CDD War Room undertook a verification process by reaching out to an election observer physically present in the community. The observer confirmed that indeed a curfew is in effect, starting at 5:30 p.m. in Twon Brass. The observer provided additional context, explaining that a conflict had arisen between opposition parties, prompting the deployment of military personnel to the community.Verdict:
The claim is verified as true. There is a confirmed curfew in the Brass community of Bayelsa State, initiated by community leadership in conjunction with security agencies. -
FACT CHECK: INEC Supervising Presiding Officer (SPO) abducted in Ossioma, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa state?
On November 10, 2023, an X user (formerly Twitter) posted that an INEC official had been abducted while waiting to board a boat at a jetty in the Amassoma community of Southern Ijaw LGA, Bayelsa State.
He tweeted, “BREAKING: INEC Supervising Presiding Officer (SPO) assigned to registration area 06 in Ossioma, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, has been abducted.
The INEC official was said to be abducted at Amassoma Community in Southern Ijaw LGA while waiting to board a boat at a jetty in the area.
Also, a boat carrying election personnel to registration area 17 in Koluama Community, Southern Ijaw LGA capsized and election materials. including result sheets, got lost.”
Claim: INEC official abducted in Ossioma, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa state.
Verification:
The CDD War Room reached out to our soldier of mouth, who confirmed the kidnapping of an INEC official while waiting to board a boat to their place of deployment.
Similarly, INEC’s Head of Department, Voters Education and Publicity in Bayelsa State, Mr Wilfred Ifogah, confirmed the abduction of an INEC official while going on official duty.
In the statement, he added that the commission could confirm the capsize of a boat carrying personnel to registration area 17 (Koluama) in Southern Ijaw LGA. Fortunately, no life was lost as all the election personnel, numbering 12, and the boat operator were rescued.
He said: “We wish to confirm that a boat carrying personnel to registration area 17 (Koluama) in Southern Ijaw LGA capsized. Fortunately, no life was lost as all the election personnel, numbering 12, and the boat operator were rescued.
“We however lost our result sheets, power banks and luggage containing personal effects of staff. The total number of registered voters in the affected registration area is 5368, and the number of PVCs collected is 5311. INEC is making efforts to ensure the conduct of elections in the affected area.
“INEC also reports that its SPO assigned to registration area 06 (Ossioma), in Sagbama LGA, was abducted while waiting to board a boat at Amassoma jetty. The security agencies have been notified,” he said.
Verdict: TRUE
The CDD War Room can confirm that the INEC Supervising Presiding Officer (SPO) was abducted in Ossioma, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa state.
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FACT CHECK: Passwords to transmit results to IReV withdrawn by INEC in Imo?
Hours before the 2023 off-cycle governorship election in Imo state, an X user, Chidi Odinkalu, posted that the passwords to transmit election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) election results viewing portal, IReV, had been withdrawn from the local government supervisors in the state.
The post read, “#IMODecides2023 Update: I have just learnt from concerned workers that the Password to transmit results to #IReV issued yesterday to LGA Supervisors in Imo for use by APO1s 2mrw have bn withdrawn without reason. New passwords have not bn issued. Expect IREV “malfunction” 2mrw.”
The post has garnered 68,000 views, 836 retweets and 720 likes, as of the time it was retrieved from the micro-blogging platform.
Screenshot of the post on X The tweet was also quoted in a news report published by Sahara Reporters, with the headline, “INEC Workers In Imo Told Me IREV Portal Password Has Been Removed; Expect ‘Malfunctioning’ On Saturday – Prof Odinkalu Alerts Nigerians.”
Claim: The passwords to transmit election results to IReV had been withdrawn from LGA supervisors in Imo state
Verification
We found that the electoral umpire, INEC, has released a statement debunking the report that the passwords to the IReV portal were withdrawn.
While it was noted that designated officials have secured the passwords to the IReV, the Commission clarified that Presiding Officers are the ones responsible for result upload and not Assistant Presiding Officers (APO1s).
“The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission has been drawn to a story attributed to unknown “concerned workers” of the Commission that passwords for result upload have been withdrawn from LGA Supervisors for use by APO1s in Imo State. This is untrue”
The Commission added, “The public should expect more of such insinuations before, during and after the elections, and continue to discountance them.”
Verdict: NO EVIDENCE
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FACT CHECK: Prefilled Election Results Found in Ogori-Magongo LGA in Kogi State?
On November 11, 2023, reports and images of a prefilled result sheet from Ogori-Magongo Local Government Areas in Kogi state have gone viral on social media. The incident was said to have occurred at the Eni Ward of the Local Government Area.
Verification
The CDD War Room contacted our Observers and Soldiers of Mouth on the field to determine the veracity of the claim.
Both CDD observers and soldiers of mouth confirmed the claim to be true. They said they saw the prefilled result sheet at polling unit 004, Ogori-Magongo, Kogi state.
Attached below is the details of the location and polling unit where the pre-filled result sheet was sighted.
LGA: Ogori-Magongo
Incident Location: Ogori-Magongo
Polling Unit Number: 004
PU Name: Aje Compound
Short Incidence: PU Result form was discovered pre-filled.
Also, our Soldier of Mouth has confirmed that several polling units in Ogori-Magongo LGA had the same issues as regards already filled result sheets. However, numerous reports of late commencement of voting has been reported due to the late arrival of ballot papers.
We can confirm that the various party agents across six polling units in Ogori-Magongo objected to the pre-filled forms. Hence, voting has stopped in the six polling units as at the time of compiling this report.
Verdict: TRUE
The CDD War Room can confirm that an image of a prefilled result sheet from Ogori-Magongo Local Government Areas was found in Kogi state. The image being circulated shows election result for a polling unit where accreditation and voting is still ongoing.
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FACT CHECK: Is palliative rice shared in Bayelsa?
On November 9, 2023, barely 48 hours before the governorship election in Bayelsa state, the CDD War Room received a claim that bags of rice received as part of the palliative package from the Federal government were being shared.
The Facebook user shared the images with the caption, “PDP is currently loading federal government palliative rice from the warehouse opposite INEC road by express to villages to deceive voters. Diri’s face is encrypted on every bag of rice. Very wicked set of people, they kept the palliative deliberately for vote buying…..Bayelsans is your rice take it and vote this useless government of hunger and poverty out. Sylva is the real deal.”
Claim: PDP shares palliative rice received from the federal government with the face of its candidate
Verification:
The CDD War Room can confirm that the PDP is sharing rice to their supporters. Our “Soldiers of Mouth” at the Adaka Boro Expressway, the distribution venue, confirmed that the distribution would cover all local governments where their supporters are located. However, the images attached to the claim were not from the venue of distribution. We found that the images attached to the claim date back to August 27, 2023, when residents attacked and looted the warehouse in Bayelsa state. The incident from which the images originated occurred at a private warehouse in the Kpansia area of Yenagoa, where the people carted away food items stored in the facility. CDD War Room recalls that in a statement after the warehouse was attacked, Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency (BYSEMA) said the stolen items included rice and garri that were no longer fit for consumption.
Attached below are the images of the rice distribution taken by the CDD Soldiers of Mouth.
Verdict: MISLEADING
The CDD War Room can confirm that rice was being distributed to partisan supporters in Bayelsa State. However, the images being circulated with the picture of a candidate are from a past incident relating to attack on a warehouse.
