Home Home

Home

  • Overview of Key Issues in the Pre-Election Period for the June 18, 2022 Ekiti State Governorship Election (Pre-Election Press Statement)

    Overview of Key Issues in the Pre-Election Period for the June 18, 2022 Ekiti State Governorship Election (Pre-Election Press Statement)

    T
    he 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

  • FACT CHECK: Does the video show children in Katsina protesting killing of their parents by bandits?

    On March 2, 2024,  a video circulated across various social media platforms with the caption “Children protest killings of their parents by bandits for three consecutive days in Katsina.” This comes amidst recurring bandit attacks in some communities in Katsina State, North West, Nigeria.

    screenshot of the YouTube post

    Subsequently, popular gossip blog “Instablog9ja” posted the video on X with the caption “Children protest k+llings of their parents by bandits in Katsina State.”  As of the time of this report, the video has garnered over two hundred thousand views, along with over three thousand likes and retweets. There were various reactions from social media users with some commenting on the number of children milling around the streets, while allegedly protesting the killing of their parents. 

    screenshot of the twitter post

    Claim: Video shows children protesting the killing of their parents by bandits in Katsina State? 

    Verification: 

    CDD War Room found that on March 1, 2024, Punch Newspaper reported that scores of residents of Wurma community blocked the Katsina-Dutsin-Ma highway in Katsina State to protest the alleged incessant bandits attacks on their community. The villagers stormed the highway as early as 9-10 a.m, where they set up bonfires from dried items. The residents lamented that bandits had continuously attacked and raided their community in recent times. According to the report, the  security operatives who visited the scene restored normalcy on the highway in the afternoon.

    Premium Times also reported that the residents of Wurma and Bichi communities in Kurfi Local Government Area of Katsina State protested the incessant terrorist activities in the area. The protesters blocked the Dutsin-Ma – Katsina highway at about 10 a.m, where they burned corn stalks and tyres. With the highway blocked, travellers found themselves stranded, forced to navigate alternative routes through bush paths or turn back entirely.

    The state governor visited the community to address both the protesters and community leaders. He vowed to continue the fight against terrorists in the state. He also called on the protesters to channel their energies towards supporting the Joint Task Force, members of the Community Watch Corps, and other security agencies. He said his administration would mobilise 100 security personnel to the community to ensure the safety of lives and property. 

    CDD War Room found that while there was a protest in Katsina on March 1, the video shared on Instablog9ja is not from the recent protest. A Google reverse image search shows that the video of the children was extracted from another incident of June 16, 2020 when hundreds of youths across Katsina State protested the killings and wanton destruction by gunmen in their respective localities. To verify the claim about children protesting, CDD War Room also spoke with different journalists who covered the March 1, protest. They debunked the claim of children protesting. They also confirmed that the protest on the Dutsima Highway was organised by communities which suffered bandits attacks recently. The journalists told CDD War Room that it was false for any media to claim that children carried out said protest. 

    Verdict: False

    The video shared by popular gossip platform claiming children recently protested in Katsina is false. The protest was carried out by adults in the community and the video has no connection with recent events in Wurma Community in Katsina State.

    ,

  • FACT CHECK: How true are Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s multiple claims ahead of 2024 Edo guber poll?

    FACT CHECK: How true are Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s multiple claims ahead of 2024 Edo guber poll?

    A gubernatorial aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has made multiple claims about his local government ahead of the off-cycle election in the state. Ize-Iyamu, was initially among the 12 aspirants cleared by the party for the governorship primaries before announcing his withdrawal from the race. He made a number of claims in a recent interview on national television.

    Ize-Iyemu’s local government, Orhionmwon, is one of the 18 LGAs of the state where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be conducting the off-cycle elections later this year. 

    To justify his governorship bid, Ize-Iyamu said, “Orhionmwon has never had a governor, we have never had a minister, we have never had a chairman of a party, we have never had a speaker. Whatever position we have never had. That’s the LGA that has no light, no water, no hospital, no higher institution. Yet, it has the largest landmass in the entire state. That is the local government that has the largest gas reserve in the entire country.”

    Ize-Iyamu, a pastor, was the APC governorship candidate for the 2020 Edo state governorship election.

    Claim I: Orhionmwon LGA has no hospital

    Verification

    To verify this claim, we checked Thehospitalbook, an online database with the records of over 38,000 health facilities. We found that there are over 18 government-owned health facilities in Orhionmwon local government, including Government Hospital Urhonigbe, Oben Cottage Hospital Ugu, Egbokor District Hospital Iyoba, Igbanke General Hospital Igbanke, and General Hospital Abudu Abiokunla 1. 

    Also, we contacted a resident, Edetanlen Anthony, who confirmed the existence of a general hospital owned by the state government and located in Abudu, Orhionmwon LGA.

    Verdict: INACCURATE

    Claim II: Orhionmwon LGA has no higher institution 

    Verification

    We found a statement by the Edo State Commissioner of Communication and Orientation, Christopher Osaretin Nehikhare, stating that the Edo State College of Education has a campus in Orhionmwon LGA. According to the statement, the facility was previously the Esigie Teacher Training College, an institution known for training teachers in the Western/Midwest regions.

    Verdict: INACCURATE

    Claim III: Orhionmwon LGA has the largest gas reserve in Nigeria

    Verification

    Although CDD War Room found no data of the breakdown of gas reserves volume by LGAs across Nigeria, the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, reportedly disclosed in April 2021, during a national gas expansion programme in Owerri, that Imo state hosts a substantial quantity of gas reserves. This he said amounts to over 200 trillion cubic feet with an additional potential of 600 TCF. Also, while addressing the 23rd World Petroleum Congress in Houston, Texas, U.S., in December 2021, Sylva stated that the country’s gas reserves stood at 206 trillion cubic feet. 

    In April 2023, Ogbugo Ukoha, an Executive Director of Distribution System, Facility and Retailing Infrastructure at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), reportedly told journalists in Enugu state that Imo state had the largest gas reserve in the country. This was also reported here.

    Verdict: ALL WE KNOW

    ,
    , , , , ,

  • FACT CHECK: Did House of Reps propose N100,000 as new minimum wage?

    FACT CHECK: Did House of Reps propose N100,000 as new minimum wage?

    CDD War Room received a claim through Check by Meedan, an online tip-line tool, that the Federal House of Representatives has proposed 100,000 Naira as the new minimum wage for workers in Nigeria. This was also claimed in a report by Intel Region titled, “JUST IN: House of Reps proposes N100,000 as minimum wage for Nigerian workers”

    This is coming amid the clamour for a new minimum wage following the rising prices of food items since the removal of fuel subsidies. In 2023, the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, called for a salary review, noting that the minimum wage would be negotiated to be N100,000 or N200,000. 

    In February 2024, Ajero said during an interview on national television that the union might demand N1 million as the new minimum wage as the initial amount suggested was no longer tenable. 

    Claim: House of Reps proposed N100k as the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers

    Verification

    The CDD War Room found that during the plenary session at the Federal House of Representatives on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, the deputy minority leader, Aliyu Madaki, reportedly led the debate on the motion “Need to provide living wage for workers in Nigeria,” where he called for a sufficient minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

    Madaki, who is a member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) representing Dala Federal Constituency of Kano State, stated that an average Nigerian could no longer afford basic needs due to the rising rate of inflation in the country. 

    He said, “We are also aware that Trade Economics in 2018 reported the living wage for an individual Nigerian and a Nigerian family to be N43,200 per month and N137,600 per month, respectively. This was a pre-subsidy removal report. Further note that presently, no labourer can live in Nigeria with a wage of less than N100,000.00.”

    The House adopted the motion after which it set up an ad-hoc committee to look into the modalities for the payment of living wages at rates that match economic realities. The Punch and Nairametrics reported the development here and here. 

    Verdict: MISLEADING

    The House of Representatives has not decided on N100,000 as the proposed amount for the anticipated new minimum wage for Nigerian workers. A member only stated during the presentation of a motion at the plenary on March 6 that an average worker could no longer live well with a wage less than N100,000 given the current economic situation in the country. 

    , , , ,

  • FACT CHECK: Did Edo Assembly Issue Impeachment Notice On Deputy Governor Philip Shuaibu? 

    FACT CHECK: Did Edo Assembly Issue Impeachment Notice On Deputy Governor Philip Shuaibu? 

    On March 6, 2024, a piece of news went viral on social media, while a similar version went viral on X (formerly Twitter) that the Edo State House of Assembly had served an impeachment notice on Philip Shuaibu, the deputy governor of Edo State.  

    This news came a few weeks after Philip Shuaibu contested a parallel primary election and was declared the winner. He stormed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headquarters to demand a certificate of return. He was, however, not given the certificate of return as the Dauda Lawal-led governorship primary committee declared Asue Ighodalo, having scored 577 votes, as the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP. His closest rival, Philip Shuaibu, scored one vote.

    Recent events have indicated an ongoing rift between the governor, Godwin Obaseki, and his deputy, Philip Shuaibu. The CDD War Room did a fact-check where Shuaibu disclosed that he felt betrayed by Obaseki for not supporting his gubernatorial bid. 

    The notice of impeachment is coming a few months into the Edo governorship election, slated for September 21, 2024. 

    Claim: Edo Assembly issues impeachment notice on Philip Shuaibu

    Verification: 

    The CDD War Room can confirm that the Edo State House of Assembly has started a process to impeach Philip Shuaibu, the deputy governor. 

    On Wednesday, March 6, Charity Aiguobarueghian, the majority leader of the State House of Assembly and member representing Ovia North East 1, announced the commencement of impeachment. He revealed that the state assembly received a petition against the deputy governor dated March 5, 2024, which was endorsed by 21 out of the 24 lawmakers.

    Aiguobarueghian noted that the petition was based on allegations of perjury and divulging Edo State government secrets.

    The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, has directed the clerk of the House, Yahaya Omogbai, to serve the impeachment notice on Shaibu. The embattled deputy governor has seven days to respond to the notice of impeachment.

    Verdict: TRUE

    The CDD War Room can confirm that 21 out of the 24 House of Assembly members in Edo State have signed the impeachment notice served on Philip Shuaibu. The speaker said the petition leading to the impeachment process is based on allegations of perjury and divulging Edo State government secrets. Philip Shuaibu has seven days to respond to the notice of impeachment. 

    , ,
    , , , , ,

  • FACT CHECK: Did Nigeria’s Minister for Women’s Affairs ask Women to ‘shut up and forgive’ abusive husbands?

    FACT CHECK: Did Nigeria’s Minister for Women’s Affairs ask Women to ‘shut up and forgive’ abusive husbands?

    A social media blog during the week reported that Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye advised women in the country to shut up and forgive their abusive husbands. Claims and counter claims over the veracity of the report have flooded social media.

    According to the report, Kennedy-Ohanenye, while speaking during a Conference of Commissioners of State Ministries of Women Affairs in Nigeria, told women to avoid trading words to prevent physical assault from their spouses.

    The latest controversy comes months after the minister’s apology over her comments on the sex scandal involving a professor at the University of Calabar. Several women groups called for the resignation of the minister over her comments, which were deemed as taking sides with sexual predators. 

    Claim: Uju Kennedy asks women to shut up and forgive abusive husbands?

    Verification

    CDD War Room did a fact-checked on the claim to establish its veracity. We found various reports from the conference ascribed to the claim.

    Reports from various media houses quoted the minister as saying, “I am equally begging my women not to look for trouble, not even at home. Maintain peace in your home because if a home is peaceful, the woman has 80 percent to contribute to that. If you need peace, you can equally achieve it.

    “Keep your mouth shut. Talking back does not yield fruit, rather it leads to death and destruction, it leads to bringing up bad children for society. Keep your mouth shut, it does not make you a fool but a wise person. When the man is shouting and saying all sorts of things, act like a fool and keep your mouth shut.

    “After a while, watch him. If he is a good man, he will come back to apologize. If he is not a good one, ignore him. Have what you want to do in your mind, but when you show who you are and fight back, most times, it leads to hitting; you could be injured.

    “The same man that injures you will come back to say I am sorry. What will you do? Will you kill him? Even if we come out to fight for you and you lose one eye, are we going to replace the eye? So prevention is better than cure.”

    CDD War Room found that the Minister in her speech asked women to keep their “mouth shut” when in an argument with their husbands to prevent violence. 

    Verdict: ALL WE KNOW

    CDD War Room found that the minister asked women to keep ‘shut’ during arguments with their spouses. Although she did not explicitly call for forgiveness for abusive spouses, she however said: “The same man that injures you will come back to say I am sorry. What will you do? Will you kill him? Even if we come out to fight for you and you lose one eye, are we going to replace the eye? So prevention is better than cure.”

    ,
    , , , , , , ,

  • FACT CHECK: Did hoodlums loot NEMA’s storage facility in Abuja? 

    FACT CHECK: Did hoodlums loot NEMA’s storage facility in Abuja? 

    A video is circulating on social media alongside the claim that hoodlums invaded a storage facility belonging to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Abuja and carted away food items. The video shows a crowd of people, including men, women and children, gathered within and outside a fenced building, as some individuals were taking away bags of food items from the premises. 

    The other part of the video shows unidentified individuals on the rooftop of the building attempting to force their entry into the warehouse. Instablog9ja and Instablog9jamedia posted the video on Sunday, March 3, 2024, with the caption, “Economic Hardship: FCT residents invade NEMA warehouse, loot foodstuffs.”

    Goldmynetv also shared the video on Instagram with the caption, “Hoodlums break into government warehouse in Abuja, steal food items.”

    In the video, a man was heard saying, ‘this is the warehouse in Gwagwa Karimo..people are hungry..”

    Claim: Hoodlums looted NEMA’s storage facility in Abuja

    Verification 

    The CDD War Room checked the viral video to confirm the claim. We found that the video shows a recent warehouse invasion, as reported by multiple news outlets. Channels Television reported that some residents raided a warehouse belonging to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Department of Agriculture on Sunday morning. 

    According to the report, they carted away foodstuffs and other items stored in the warehouse.

    However, contrary to multiple social media posts and news reports, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Manzo Ezekiel, that the looted warehouse does not belong to the agency.

    Verdict: Misleading

    The CDD War Room can confirm that the storage facility that some residents of Abuja reportedly invaded on Sunday, March 3, 2024, belonged to the FCT Department of Agriculture, not NEMA, as widely circulated online. 

    , , , ,

  • FACT CHECK: Federal Government Plans To Build An ICT Platform For $95 Million To Fine Employers Of Labour?

    FACT CHECK: Federal Government Plans To Build An ICT Platform For $95 Million To Fine Employers Of Labour?

    On February 29, 2024, a claim went viral on WhatsApp and X (formerly Twitter) that the Federal Government wants to build an ICT platform for $95 million to fine employers of labor. According to the comments on the tweet, the ICT platform will be a portal where employers of foreigners will pay tax for every foreigner working in the Nigerian firm. The cost of building and running the platform will be $95 million. 

    Attached to the tweet is an image (screenshot) of a webpage with the subheading “Expatriates Employment Levy.”

    As of the time of this report, the tweet has garnered over 76,000 views. 

    Claim: The Federal Government wants to build an ICT platform for $95 million to fine employers of labor

    Verification: 

    The CDD War Room traced the image attached to the tweet to the official website of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC). We found that the ICRC reports directly to the Presidency and is in charge of superintending and regulating public-private partnerships (PPP) on public infrastructures in Nigeria. 

    We found that the Expatriate Employment Levy was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in May 2023 alongside the concession of Burutu & Onne port, Abuja & Lagos Airport. 

    According to the released details, “The Expatriate Employment Levy (EEL) project seeks to boost the revenue generation of the country through the imposition of levy on companies that employ expatriates.

    It aims to discourage employers from hiring expatriates for jobs that Nigerians could easily do. The project will employ a robust ICT System for the collection of Expatriate Employment Levy.

    The project is approved at a cost of $95,024,000, with Messrs Air Wave Ltd as a concessionaire and an estimated revenue of $13,391,529,119 ($13.4 billion).”

    The CDD War Room found that the Bola Tinubu administration took over the EEL project, developed a policy document (handbook), and launched it on February 28, 2024. The EEL project will be supervised by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) as a government revenue collection initiative. 

    According to the policy document, private sector employers hiring foreign nationals on a long-term assignment (for a minimum of 183 days within a non-consecutive 12-month period) intending to file a work or residence application (or renewal) or those intending to change their employee’s status from business visitor to work authorized, must pay a one-off annual payment of USD 15,000 for each foreign national director. For all other positions, they must pay USD 10,000. All employers must utilize the EEL portal to submit these payments.

    Verdict: TRUE

    The CDD War Room can confirm that the FG has approved the plan to build an ICT platform for $95, 024, 000 with an estimated revenue of $13,391,529,119 ($13.4 billion). According to the details available on the ICRC website, the project will employ a robust ICT system whereby companies that employ expatriates will pay levies to the Federal Government. The project was awarded to Messrs Air Wave Ltd as a concessionaire. 

    , ,
    , , , , ,

  • FACT CHECK: Did Customs Comptroller General announce sale of rice across all states?

    FACT CHECK: Did Customs Comptroller General announce sale of rice across all states?

    Recently, a WhatsApp user shared a picture with the caption “Go to any Custom office in your state with just your NIN and 10k for 5kg bag of Rice. Announcer- Customs Comptroller General”

    The message has since gone viral across social media platforms and was seen as “forwarded many times” on whatsapp

    Claim: Customs Comptroller- General announce distribution of 10k and 25kg bags of Rice across all states in Nigeria

    Verification

    On February 23, 2024, Vanguard News reported that “The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, will today commence the sale of seized bags of rice to the public at the rate of N10,000 per 25kg. Disclosing this to newsmen in Lagos, Comptroller General of the NCS, Adewale Adeniyi, said the process for the sale of the rice has been perfected such that a form with all the details of the applicants, including the National Identification Number, NIN, will be submitted and a bar code will be generated for the collection of the commodity.

    Similarly, Punch News reported that “Nigerians, mostly artisans, have visited the commands of the Nigeria Customs Service to get 25kg of rice for N10,000. This came a few hours after the service announced that it would commence the distribution of the seized food items on February 23, 2024. The Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, had said that the distribution of seized food items would commence on Friday. Adeniyi, while speaking with journalists on February 22, 2024, in Lagos, warned that the seized food items were not to be resold”.

    The CDD War Room found that the rice sale was necessitated by the economic meltdown, rising inflation, the continuous increase in the prices of goods and services, and the hardship it has caused to the populace. We found that other measures announced to cushion the effect of this nationwide hardship is the president’s announcement of the release of 102,000 metric tonnes of grains to crash the price of food items, adding that his administration will not resort to food importation. 

    The CDD War Room found that as at the time of publishing this report, the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) has begun distribution of 10kg in the Yaba zonal office, Lagos State on February 23, 2024. We found that this distribution exercise is yet to be conducted across other custom offices in the states across the country. 

    Meanwhile, on February 27, 2024, Punch News reported that Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has suspended its food disposal initiative following a stampede that claimed seven lives during the distribution of the 25kg bags of rice at its Zonal Headquarters, Yaba, Lagos State.

    Verdict: Misleading

    The CDD War Room can confirm that the sale commenced only at the Yaba zonal office, Lagos State. The sale was suspended on the February 27, 2024 due to the stampede that claimed seven lives. However, as at the time of this publication, distribution is yet to commence in other custom offices across the country. 

    ,
    , , , ,

  • FACT CHECK: How true are the claims that WhatsApp messages, audio and video calls are being recorded?

    FACT CHECK: How true are the claims that WhatsApp messages, audio and video calls are being recorded?

    During the week, a viral message circulated via WhatsApp and shared on other social media spaces, accusing the Nigerian government of encroaching on privacy rights. The message alleged that the government was recording and storing phone conversations, tracking messages, and monitoring activities on social media platforms.

    Emphasizing a crackdown specifically targeting WhatsApp, Instagram, and Twitter, the message was accompanied by the Nigerian Coat of Arms.  

    Verification

    CDD War Room traced and found that the broadcast message has appeared on the web since 2021. However, the initial broadcast did not have the image of the Nigerian Coat of Arms. 

    Read here, here and here.

    Despite claims suggesting monitoring of all social media platforms, the CDD War Room observed a breakdown of alleged ‘new’ rules specifically targeting WhatsApp.

    To verify these claims, the CDD War Room thoroughly examined WhatsApp’s read messaging settings. Our investigation revealed the read messaging settings remained consistent with single, double, and double blue ticks, except in cases of a blocked contact or a contact with read receipts turned off.

    Contrary to the claim, additional ‘updates’ such as red, double red, or triple red ticks were not among the options provided by the messaging platform. CDD War Room can therefore reach the conclusion that the claims regarding WhatsApp’s updated read messaging settings are unfounded, and the platform’s existing features remain unchanged.

    The Viral WhatsApp post alleges that the Nigerian government plans to monitor both voice and video calls on the platform, along with tracking messages. The CDD War Room conducted an investigation into the authenticity of these claims by examining WhatsApp’s privacy settings.

    Our findings revealed that WhatsApp maintains an end-to-end encryption setting, ensuring that only the sender and recipient can read messages, with no access granted to third parties. Additionally, the platform offers additional security measures such as locked chats and disappearing messages to further protect user privacy.

    Therefore, based on our analysis, the claims regarding government monitoring appear to be unfounded, and WhatsApp’s privacy features remain intact to safeguard user data and communications.

    Verdict: False

    The broadcast message lacks a verifiable source and has been circulating since 2021. The associated claims with the broadcast messages are entirely baseless and false.

    ,
    , ,

  • FACT CHECK: Did the Lagos State Police Commissioner Lead Protest?

    FACT CHECK: Did the Lagos State Police Commissioner Lead Protest?

    A few hours ago, on February 27, 2024, an image circulated on social media suggesting that the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State led an ongoing protest in the state. Initially shared by the Daily Trust, a prominent newspaper, the image was accompanied by the caption “Lagos State Commissioner leading the protest along Awolowo Way, Ikeja.”

    Subsequently, the image was re-shared by the popular gossip blog “Instablog.” As of the time of this report, it has garnered over a million views, along with over 16,000 likes and retweets. There were various reactions from social media users to the seeming identification of the police force with the plight of the masses.

    Background: 

    The discontent regarding the substantial surge in prices of essential commodities, attributed to the depreciation of the naira against major foreign currencies has sparked widespread calls for protests throughout the nation. 

    Organised labour, comprising the the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress planned a protest scheduled for February 27 and 28, 2024. The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) expressed its dissatisfaction with the government’s failure to implement the agreements reached between both parties on October 2, 2023. These agreements were reached in the aftermath of the removal of the fuel subsidy. 

    The decision to embark on a nationwide protest was made following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the federal government, urging it to implement measures aimed at alleviating the widespread hardship experienced across the country.

    While the right to protest is considered a fundamental human right, as outlined in sections 38, 39, 40, and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, there is a prevailing public perception that the Nigerian police force tends to exhibit undue aggression towards peaceful protesters. 

    Nevertheless, the Nigerian Police Act stipulates that it is the duty of the police to ensure the security of lawful and peaceful protesters. As such, it is mandated that prior to the organisation of any protest, approval must be obtained from the police command of the area where the protest is intended to take place. This legal framework aims to strike a balance between the exercise of the right to peaceful assembly and the maintenance of public order. 

    On February 26, 2024, The Punch newspaper reported that the police had placed its officers on red alert in anticipation of nationwide protests. Additionally, it was noted that the police had deployed its anti-riot squad in preparation for the demonstrations. 

    Claim: The police commissioner led the protest in Lagos State? 

    Verification

    To verify this claim, The CDD War Room reached out to a journalist who covered the protest in Lagos, and according to his account, the police commissioner was indeed present at the protest. However, the journalist clarified that the commissioner did not lead the protest; instead, it was led by one of the Labour leaders. The journalist clarified that the commissioner’s presence at the protest was in his capacity as a law enforcement officer. The officer was present as part of measures to prevent the breakdown of law and order. CDD War learnt that the commissioner stayed briefly before departing. 

    Furthermore, the CDD War Room contacted the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Lagos State Police Command, who emphatically stated that the Commissioner of Police did not lead any protest. The PRO confirmed that the commissioner’s presence at the protest was solely to oversee the security arrangements.

    Verdict: 

    Misleading. 

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police did not lead the protest. Instead, his presence at the protest site was part of measures to prevent breakdown of law and order.

    , , , , ,
    , ,