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 SHIELD: Who is Constitutionally Empowered to Collate and Declare Election Results? 

    FACT SHIELD: Who is Constitutionally Empowered to Collate and Declare Election Results? 

    There are five main steps towards conducting a free, fair, and credible election. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines, the steps are accreditation, voting, counting, collation and results declaration. 

    Over the years, electorates and the general public in Nigeria have always paid keen attention to accreditation, voting and counting, leaving out collation and results declaration. In most cases, the electorates leave the polling unit as soon as they are done with the voting process. Given the many instances of flawed elections, voters have over the years been encouraged to keep an eye on the entire stretch of the process, including collation and declaration of results.

    Another gap is the lack of awareness on who is constitutionally empowered to collate and declare election results after the voting process has ended. There appears to be gaps in the understanding around who should collate and announce across all levels. This was evident in the 2023 gubernatorial election in Adamawa State. 

    On April 14, 2023, Yunusa Hari, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), announced Aisha Dahiru “Binani” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected governor of Adamawa State. However, the declaration generated mixed reactions as some stakeholders present at the collation centre affirmed that the Returning Officer, Mele Lamido, was the official empowered by law to declare the winner of the election.

    The entire declaration process was declared null and void while the due process was followed, which saw the declaration of Ahmadu Fintiri by the Returning Officer, after a supplementary election.

    To bridge the gaps highlighted above, it is expedient to identify who is constitutionally empowered to collate and declare election results. 

    Collation and Declaration of Election Results

    According to the INEC manual, collation is the tabulation or summation of votes cast at an election while declaration follows simultaneously. Collation is the final step in an election and entails the official announcement of election results by the electoral umpire. 

    Declaration is the announcement of results and it is a mandatory legal requirement of the electoral process. To safeguard integrity, the results must accurately reflect the total votes cast, considering decisions on disputed ballots.

    In Nigeria, there are several levels of collation depending on the type of election. These levels include: 

    • Registration Area (RA)/Ward Level
    • Local Government Area (LGA) Level
    • State Assembly Constituency Level
    • Federal (House of Representatives) Constituency Level
    • Senatorial District Level
    • State Level
    • Collation and Declaration of Presidential Election Results at the National Level.

    Once voting has ended in the various polling units, the sorting and counting of ballots is done at every polling unit (except for places where elections did not hold), and the collation moves from one level to another. 

    The first level is the Area Council Elections, where the Presiding Officers send the poll results to the Registration Area (RA) Collation Officer. The RA Collation Officer collates results from polling units, declares the result for Councillorship and returns the winner. 

    As for the  Chairmanship result, which falls under the second level, it is collated in the Local Government Area (LGA) by the LGA Collation Officer. The LGA Collation Officer collates the results from the various wards in the LGA, declares and returns the winner as Chairman-elect for the Local Government. 

    The third level is the State Assembly Constituency, where the Presiding Officers send the results to the RA Collation Officer. Thereafter, the RA Collation Officer collates and sends the result to the State Constituency Returning Officer or the LGA Collation Officer, depending on the geographical area covered by the State constituency.  The result is then sent to the State Constituency Returning Officer, who collates and declares the result and returns the winner as the Member-elect of the State House of Assembly.

    The fourth level is the Governorship Election results collation, where Presiding Officers send the poll results to the RA Collation Officer. The RA Collation Officer collates and sends the result to the LGA Collation Officer, while he collates and sends it to the State Returning Officer. The State Returning Officer collates results from LGA Collation Centres, declares the result and returns the winner as Governor-elect for the State.

    Note that at this level, the State Collation/ Returning Officer is different from the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC). It is the State Collation/ Returning Officer that is empowered to collate and declare election results for the State governorship elections. 

    The fifth level is the National Assembly election results collation. At this level, the process is divided into two: the House of Representatives and the Senatorial District. 

    For the House of Representatives election results collation, this level follows the same collation procedure as the other levels. However, the RA Collation Officer submits to the Constituency Collation/Returning Officer.

    The Constituency/Returning Officer is empowered to enter the score of each candidate into the declaration of result form for the federal constituency and return as elected the candidate with the highest number of valid votes cast at the federal constituency election.

    For the Senatorial district election results, the procedure is to follow all the channels explained above, and the Senatorial district Collation Officer is to take delivery of the original copies of the results, enter the score of each candidate into the declaration of result form for the Senate and return as elected the candidate who scores the highest number of valid votes cast at the Senatorial District Election.

    The fifth level is the Presidential election results collation. This is a long process that includes the State Collation Officer, who collates and takes the result to the National Collation Center, chaired by the INEC chairman, who doubles as the Chief Electoral Commissioner. 

    Furthermore, the Chief Electoral Commissioner (Chief Returning Officer) collates results from the State Collation Officers, declares the result and returns the winner as President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    It should be noted that at every level of collation and declaration, the Presiding Officers/Collation Officers complete the result sheet and request the party agents available to countersign. A duplicate copy of the result is available to each one while the original is taken to the next collation level.

    Thereafter, the Presiding Officers/Collation Officers at each level complete the notice of results of the poll and paste at the Polling Unit or Collation Centre. In a case where the margin of win between the two leading candidates is not more than the total number of registered voters of the polling unit(s) where the election was cancelled or not held, the Returning Officer shall decline to make a return until another poll has taken place in the affected Polling Unit(s) and the results incorporated into the existing one.

    Constitutional Responsibility of Presiding, Collation and Returning Officers

    According 2022 Electoral Act;

    Section 60 states that:

    (i) The Presiding officer shall, after counting the votes at the polling unit,

    enter the votes scored by each candidate in a form to be prescribed

    by the Commission as the case may be.

    (ii) The form shall be signed and stamped by the presiding officer and

    counter signed by the candidates or their polling agents where

    available at the polling unit.

    (iii) The presiding officer shall give to the polling agents and the police

    officer where available a copy each of the completed forms after it has

    been duly signed as provided under subsection (ii).

    (iv) The presiding officer shall count and announce the result at the polling

    Unit.

    (v) The presiding officer shall transfer the results including total number of

    accredited voters and the results of the ballot in a manner as prescribed

    by the Commission.

    (vi) A presiding officer who wilfully contravenes any provision of this section

    commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not more than

    N500,000 or imprisonment for a term of at least six months.

    Section 64 (iv) states that: 

    A collation officer or returning officer at an election shall collate and

    announce the result of an election, subject to his or her verification

    and confirmation that the—

    (a) number of accredited voters stated on the collated result are

    correct and consistent with the number of accredited voters

    recorded and transmitted directly from polling units under section

    47 (ii) of this Act; and

    (b) the votes stated on the collated result are correct and consistent

    with the votes or results recorded and transmitted directly from

    polling units under section 60 (iv) of this Act.

    Section 64 (v) states that:

    Subject to subsection (i), a collation officer or returning officer shall use the number of accredited voters recorded and transmitted directly from polling units under section 47 (ii) of this Act and the votes or results recorded and transmitted directly from polling units under section 60 (iv) of this Act to collate and announce the result of an election if a collated result at his or a lower level of collation is not correct.

    Section 66 states that:

    In an election to the office of the President or Governor whether or not contested and in any contested election to any other elective office, the result shall be ascertained by counting the votes cast for each candidate and subjected to the provisions of sections 133, 134 and 179 of the Constitution. The candidate that receives the highest number of votes shall be declared elected by the appropriate returning officer.

     The summary of these sections of the Electoral Act (2022) is that the Presiding Officer takes charge of accreditation, voting, and counting at the various polling units. These Presiding Officers are not empowered to declare election results. It is the Returning Officer that is empowered to collate all election results across all levels and declare (announce) the results at the collation centre. Therefore, whoever declare (announce) the results asides the Collation/Returning Officer has committed an offense. 

    ,
    , , , ,

  • FACT CHECK: Has PDP’s Samuel Anyanwu Withdrawn from Imo Governorship Race?

    FACT CHECK: Has PDP’s Samuel Anyanwu Withdrawn from Imo Governorship Race?

    A purported video of  Samuel Anyanwu, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claiming that he has withdrawn from the November 11 governorship election in Imo has been trendinding.

    The video circulating on the social messaging platform WhatsApp features a TVC news reporter announcing the withdrawal of a candidate named Anyanwu. In the video, Anyanwu is depicted as stating that the reason for his withdrawal is to throw his support behind the incumbent governor in the State in an effort to contribute to the improvement of the state.

    Anyanwu is one of the leading candidates in the race. He is one of the contestants up against incumbent Governor Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Verification

    After careful observation, CDD War Room noted that there were no synchronisation between the audio and the video being circulated.

    CDD War Room ran the video through a deep fake scanner and found the video to be fake. 

    Also, the SamJones Governorship Campaign Council debunked the claim describing it as fake and further urging the public to disregard it.

    Verdict: FALSE

    , ,
    , ,

  • FACT SHIELD: Would INEC Transmit Results Electronically?

    FACT SHIELD: Would INEC Transmit Results Electronically?

    There have been various online speculations and insinuations regarding the method of election result transmission. One such claim suggests that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) might not transmit election results electronically. How true is this claim? CDD War Room gives details of Nigeria’s electoral process and method of election results transmission as well as collation of results.

    Nigeria’s Electoral Process

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was established in accordance with section 153(f) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The functions of the Commission are stipulated in Part I of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution. The Commission is responsible for conducting elections in Nigeria and wields various powers, just as it is mandated to carry out a range of responsibilities detailed in the constitution and the Electoral Act. One of its key roles is the supervision of elections and ensuring they are free, fair and reflective of the democratic aspirations of voters.

    In line with its constitutional mandate, the National Assembly passed the Electoral Act, 2022, which became law in February 2022. This law gives INEC the discretion to determine and decide its guidelines. In exercising this discretion, INEC introduced Clause 38 in its regulations, enabling the electronic transmission of election results.

    Under Section 60(5) of the Electoral Act, it is specified that the presiding officer at the polling unit, after counting votes and declaring the results, should transmit these results in accordance with INEC’s directives. Failure to comply with INEC’s directives regarding the manner of transmission can result in sanctions for the presiding officer. In essence, the introduction of electronic transmission of election results through Clause 38 is a step taken by INEC to ensure more efficient and transparent election processes in accordance with the powers and discretion granted to it under the Electoral Act. Therefore INEC has assured Nigerians that it would ensure results are transmitted electronically during the off cycle polls of November 11, 2023.

    Collation process

    It is however pertinent to add that while the transmission of election results is done for the public to track the credibility of Nigeria’s elections, collation is done manually.

    Here’s a break down of the collation process.

    After voting is concluded, the Presiding Officer is responsible for counting the votes and filling out the Result Form (EC8A), in accordance with Section 60(5) of the Electoral Act. Results are then announced at the polling unit, as stipulated in Section 65 of the Electoral Act, and a copy of the result is pasted and uploaded on the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) for public viewing. The next step involves the transmission of results to the local government collation centers. Section 60(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act provides guidelines for this process. It often involves the use of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS), as mentioned in Section 60(5). At the local government level, the Local Government Collation Officer receives the results from various polling units and compiles them, filling out Form EC8B, following the provisions of Section 65 of the Electoral Act. The collation process continues until all results from the local government areas are compiled.

    The final stage takes place at the state collation center, as guided by Section 60(1), (2), and (5) of the Electoral Act. Here, results from all local government areas within the state are combined and aggregated to determine the winner of the governorship election. This final collation process aims to ensure accuracy and transparency in the election outcome, in line with Section 60(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act and the practical instructions provided in the Electoral Guidelines of 2023.

    Conclusion

    The use of the BVAS and IReV were part of INEC’s electoral guidelines. The electoral act however gave INEC powers to choose what process can be employed to transmit results which was what section Section 60(5) of the Electoral Act states. While electronic transmission of results provides an additional layer of transparency in elections, the results collation process happens from the ward level to the LGA and then to the State level where the totals are computed and winner declared.

    , ,
    , , , , , , ,

  • FACT CHECK: IGP says police escort for VIPs on election day is an offence

    FACT CHECK: IGP says police escort for VIPs on election day is an offence

    On November 6, 2023, the CDD War Room received a claim via our Check by Meedan app. According to the claim, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), at a townhall meeting said it is an offence for a Police officer to escort any VIP on election day. He added that election day is an exemption for VIP escort.

    Claim: IGP says police escort for VIPs on election day is an offence

    Verification: 

    On November 5, 2023, the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun appeared at the Townhall meeting aired on Channel News. At the event tagged “People’s Townhall on Election Security’, Seun Okinbaloye asked him on the standard procedure for Police officers on election day, at the poling unit. 

    The IGP said “Police men who provide escorts to VIPs are not supposed to provide that escort on election day. Election day is an exemption to that duty for them. So no VIP will be allowed to  move with Police escort on the day of election. And anyone that does that is violating the electoral law and is liable to prompt arrest. And such people will be dealt with once arrested.” 

    The CDD War Room found several reports of such warning in previous elections. 

    In 2019, Mohammed Adamu, the then acting Inspector-General of Police, stated that no officer is allowed to escort  any  politician during the  general elections.

    Ahead of the supplementary election in 2023, a similar warning was issued by the then IGP, Usman Baba. He reiterated the ban on all security aides to Very Important Persons (VIPs) and escorts from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election.

    Verdict: TRUE

    The CDD War Room can confirm that the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, said police escort for VIPs on election day is an offence and any one caught will be arrested and dealt with. He made the statement at the People’s Townhall meeting on Channel Television. 

    ,
    , , ,

  • FACT CHECK: Did 15 Saudi Arabia Mercenaries Arrive Imo State to Fight Biafra Liberation?

    FACT CHECK: Did 15 Saudi Arabia Mercenaries Arrive Imo State to Fight Biafra Liberation?

    Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed leader of the separatist and proscribed group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has claimed that approximately 15 mercenaries from the Middle East have entered Imo State with the intention of manipulating the elections. This claim follows closely on the heels of his recent assertion of a self-declared lockdown in the state.

    In his statement, Ekpa suggested that these mercenaries arrived from Saudi Arabia and were in the state to counter the Biafra liberation movement.

    Claim: 15 Saudi Arabia Mercenaries Arrived Imo State to Fight Biafra Liberation

    Verification

    In a conversation with the CDD War Room, the Public Relations Officer of the Imo State command, Henry Okoye, refuted both claims, categorically stating that they were misguided and delusional. Okoye affirmed the presence of security agencies on the ground in the state and reassured the public of a secure election environment.

    When asked about allegations of human rights abuses and the arrests of mercenaries, the PRO vehemently denied these claims, emphasizing that no such incidents had occurred in the state. Okoye explained that reports of such events had been disseminated by the media with the intent to sow fear and tension within the state. He further urged the public to dismiss any claims and recommendations made by Ekpa.

    We also found no credible news reports to support the claim by Ekpa. Reports that buttress the claim by Ekpa are from pro-Biafra blogs and pages online.

    Verdict: No Evidence

    There is no evidence to buttress the claim that 15 Saudi Arabia Mercenaries arrived in Imo State to Fight Biafra Liberation as suggested by Ekpa. CDD War Room contacted security agencies as well as credible news organizations and found no such claim. Also, no CDD soldier of mouth reported sighting any foreign mercenary anywhere in the state.

    , ,
    , , , ,

  • FACT CHECK: How true is the viral letter purportedly from the Forum of Igala Journalists over Kogi guber poll?

    FACT CHECK: How true is the viral letter purportedly from the Forum of Igala Journalists over Kogi guber poll?

    A press statement criticising Shuaibu Audu, minister of steel development, over the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign in Kogi State is circulating on social media.

    The press statement, which was retrieved from WhatsApp, was purportedly issued by the Forum of Igala Journalists (FORIJA). It was signed by the secretary general of the forum, Omonu Nelson, and dated November 2, 2023.

    Parts of it read, “On behalf of the Forum of Igala Journalists (FORIJA), I am writing to express our deep disappointment at your decision to lead the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign for the November 11 governorship election in Kogi state.

    “Your father, Prince Audu Abubakar, was a beloved and respected leader of the Igala people and Kogi State at large. He was known for his integrity, commitment to good governance, and love for his people.

    “We believe that your decision to support Governor Yahaya Bello’s Proxy Third Term bid is a betrayal of your father’s legacy and goodwill that he earned for your family.”

    Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Shuaibu Audu as the minister of steel development following his emergence as Nigeria’s president in the 2023 general elections. 

    Claim: Forum of Igala Journalists (FORIJA) issued a press statement criticising Shuaib Audu, minister of steel development, over APC campaign in Kogi state.

    Screenshot of the press statement on WhatsApp

    Verification

    To confirm the veracity of the press statement, this researcher conducted a Google reverse search and found that the development was reported by multiple news blogs here and here. Also, the letter was posted by multiple Facebook users as can be seen here, here, and here. The news report and Facebook posts were dated November 3, 2023.

    This researcher further called the phone numbers listed at the top of the press statement.

    The first person this researcher spoke with refused to disclose his name, but he was identified as Jeremiah Ocheme on Truecaller, an Open Source Intelligence Tool (OSINT). 

    Ocheme, who disclosed that he was a founding member of FORIJA, confirmed the authenticity of the press statement. He said he is no longer a member of the forum due to an ideological disagreement. 

    When asked why his phone number is still on the letterhead, he explained that the group continued to use the stationery that was in use when he was an active member in Abuja, adding that he is now in Kano state.

    The second person this researcher spoke with, identified as Tope, also confirmed the letter, stating that he is no longer a member and has moved to Oyo state.

    Furthermore, this researcher found a Facebook page known as “Arise Igala Magazine.” The page also posted the press statement alongside a response statement purportedly from Shuaibu Audu. An assessment of the contents on the Facebook page shows that Arise Igala TV had an exclusive interview with the minister of steel in October 2023.

    The FORIJA Facebook pages as seen here and here have no recent posts; the latest posts on the pages are from 2019. 

    When this researcher contacted the secretary-general of the association, Omonu Nelson, he confirmed that he had signed and issued the press statement. Further check shows that the association was registered as a legal entity by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Nigeria’s corporate registry, in 2017.

    Verdict: TRUE

    We can confirm that the viral press statement criticising Shuaibu Audu, the minister of steel Development, over the APC campaign in Kogi state, was indeed issued by the Forum of Igala Journalists (FORIJA). The general secretary of the association, Omonu Nelson, confirmed the authenticity of the letter.

    , ,
    , , , , , ,

  • FACT CHECK: Did SDP’s Murtala Ajaka step down for ADC’s Leke Abejide?

    FACT CHECK: Did SDP’s Murtala Ajaka step down for ADC’s Leke Abejide?

    CDD War Room received a fact-check request via the MEEDAN app regarding a claim that Murtala “Muri” Ajaka, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the November 11, 2023 election in Kogi State, had stepped down for Leke Abejide, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    Upon conducting thorough investigations, it was discovered that this claim had been widely circulated on social media platforms and prominent blogs, including Nairaland – where allegations were made that Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President, brokered this agreement due to his interest in shifting power to the Yoruba-speaking part of the state. A press statement titled “Murtala Ajaka Steps Down and Merges with Abejide Leke of the ADC,” purportedly originating from the SDP, accompanied the claim.

    Verification:

    The CDD War Room reached out to the Deputy Chairman of the SDP in the state, who unequivocally refuted the news. He expressed suspicions that the news likely originated from the opposition, who aimed to diminish the popularity of their candidate. Additionally, he mentioned that they had contacted radio stations and media outlets in the state to disseminate the truth that Muri had not and would not step down for any other candidate. He emphasised that the press statement did not originate from the SDP camp and should be disregarded.

    What the Law says:

    Part IV, Section 31 of the 2022 Electoral Act stipulates that a candidate can only withdraw, or in this context, “step down,” 90 days before the election. It states:

    “A candidate may withdraw his or her candidature by notice in writing signed by him and delivered personally by the candidate to the political party that nominated him for the election, and the political party shall convey such withdrawal to the Commission not later than 90 days before the election.”

    Section 33 further specifies that a party must conduct new primaries to replace a candidate who withdraws within 14 days of being notified of the withdrawal. It states:

    “A political party shall not be allowed to change or substitute its candidate whose name has been submitted under section 29 of this Act, except in the case of death or withdrawal by the candidate. Provided that in the case of such withdrawal or death of a candidate, the political party affected shall, within 14 days of the occurrence of the event, hold a fresh primary election to produce and submit a fresh candidate to the Commission for the concerned election.”

    This legal framework establishes that a registered party with a candidate on the ballot cannot abruptly be without one. Given that the election is just about 48 hours away, it is evident that the above provisions of the law cannot be followed. Also, a top party official contacted by the CDD War Room as at the time of this fact check has vehemently denied the claim that the SDP governorship candidate had stepped down for the ADC candidate. Therefore, reports of candidates stepping down is false. 

    Verdict: False.

    CDD War Room reached out to the deputy chairman of the SDP in the state who refuted the claim that Murtala Ajaka had stepped down.

    , , ,
    , , ,

  • FACT SHIELD: All to know about INEC logistics plans for the November 11 Kogi state governorship poll

    FACT SHIELD: All to know about INEC logistics plans for the November 11 Kogi state governorship poll

    Ahead of the off-cycle elections scheduled for November 11, 2023, in Kogi state, there have been unverified narratives circulating over the logistics plans of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). These controversies include rumours circulating on social media with speculations that election materials will not be deployed to some polling units with the intent to scuttle the electoral process in those areas. 

    Part of such rumour is a viral broadcast message retrieved from WhatsApp, with the narrative that there are plans to disrupt the election in Kogi East by starving the area of election materials.

    The broadcast message on Whatsapp shows the “forwarded many times” feature which means that it had been widely circulated on the instant messaging platform.

    Screenshot of the viral broadcast message on WhatsApp

    To address the rumours making the rounds on social media, the CDD War Room contacted an INEC official in Kogi state, Haliru Haruna, who explained the logistics plans of the Commission for the November 11 governorship poll in the state.

    Haruna debunked the viral speculations that the Commission will be deploying election materials to the wrong polling units, describing them as falsehoods targeted at distorting facts about the efforts of the umpire towards ensuring a credible electoral process.

    Further explaining the stages involved in deploying the sensitive election materials to the polling units where they will be used for the voting exercise, he said the ballot papers and the results sheets will first be taken to the Central Bank of Nigeria once they are brought into the state.

    “Anytime we are going to the Central Bank for the sensitive materials, we are going with the security and agents of the political parties. So, we cannot do anything there without the security and political party agents.”

    While noting that the sensitive materials were yet to arrive Lokoja, the state’s capital, he revealed that they would be received by Wednesday, November 8, 2023.

    “When they arrive, they are going to the CBN and from CBN, INEC management, the electoral officers of the local governments, all security agencies and all agents of the political parties, will go to CBN together with the media.”

    Haruna explained that the sensitive materials will be deployed from the CBN to the local governments, with the support of the security agents. He added that the personnel can not open the materials without the political party agents being present.  

    From the local governments, the sensitive materials will be moved to the Registration Area Centres (RACs), accompanied by the security escorts, before they are deployed to the polling units.

    “There is no point that the people or any INEC staff will move sensitive materials without party agents,” Haruna reiterated. 

    When asked when the polling units will be set up across the local governments, he explained that  “INEC personnel will set up the polling units by 7:30 am” while the voting exercise starts by 8:30 am and ends by 2:30 pm. 

    , ,
    , , , , , , , ,

  • FACT CHECK: How true is claim that heavy military presence is ploy to rig Imo governorship election?

    FACT CHECK: How true is claim that heavy military presence is ploy to rig Imo governorship election?

    Recently various videos depicting a convoy of military officers in Imo state began trending on messaging app Whatsapp. One of the videos shared was from Orsu local government area of the state.

    Various narratives have accompanied the viral video some of which are that the Imo Government allegedly invited the military to help it rig the elections; the military was in the state because of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) amongst others.

    Claim: Video shows heavy military presence in Imo State and the ploy is to rig the November 11 governorship poll?

    Verification

    To authentic the video and verify the claim, CDD War Room spoke with a CDD Soldier of Mouth who confirmed the presence of the soldiers in the area. According to our soldier of mouth, on Friday, military convoys were observed in various parts of the states. 

    He said, “I personally witnessed about 20 vehicles filled with armed personnel along Okigwe road Owerri today. Between 5-6 pm.” He also affirmed that the particular video footage was taken in Orsu local government area of the state. Our Soldier of Mouth, however, stated that the officers were going about their business and did not harass any passers by.

    It is pertinent to recall that Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police and the head of the election security committee while speaking over the weekend during the people’s town hall noted that security forces have begun deployment to the three states in which the elections would take place. He noted that the deployment would be completed by Friday, a day before the election.

    Additionally, we found a news report assuring of the military’s support for the police during the November 11, 2023 governorship election. Various branches of Nigeria’s security forces have been declaring their readiness to secure the electoral terrain to ensure free, fair and credible elections. They security top brass have also warned thugs and perpetrators of electoral violence to stay away from the electoral space or face the full wrath of the law. 

    The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Christopher Musa after meeting with heads of security agencies in Imo, also assured of the Military’s commitment to providing security at the off-cycle governorship elections.

    Verdict: No Evidence

    Although the video circulated showed a convoy of military men in the state, the CDD War Room found the claim that they have been brought in to rig elections as one lacking evidence. Based on pronouncement made by the top brass of the security forces, we also found that the reason for the heavy military presence in the state was to deter thugs and trouble makers in check.

    , ,
    , , , , ,

  • FACT CHECK: Do these images show arrested thugs after shooting an elderly woman in Nembe?

    FACT CHECK: Do these images show arrested thugs after shooting an elderly woman in Nembe?

    On November 6, 2023, a claim was being circulated with images attached across Facebook pages. A version of the claim reads that “Political thug caught with charms and arms in Nembe in Bayelsa State when he and his gang reported shot an elderly woman to death.” 

    Claim: Image shows thugs caught with charms and arms in Nembe in Bayelsa State.

    Verification: 

    The CDD War Room subjected the attached images to a Google reverse image search.

    We found that the images were cut from a video posted by a Facebook user. According to the Facebook post, “the kidnappers stormed the residence of Caroline Bassey, who was successfully kidnapped out of her residence at Peter Ojie street off Winners Way by kidnappers masquerading as people who want to rent chairs from her in her compound.”
    The incident was reported to occur in Calabar, Cross River at about 11.30am on Saturday November, 4 2023.

    The event were officially reported by mainstream media and some blog pages here and here. 

    To establish whether the story peddled alongside the images is true, we contacted the “CDD soldiers of mouth” in Nembe, Bayelsa. They revealed that no elderly woman was shot and that no arrest in connection with any shooting was effected by law enforcement agencies. 

    Therefore, we can confirm that the images attached to the claim that political thugs were caught with charms and arms in Nembe in Bayelsa State, are not related to any recent incidents in Bayelsa State. CDD War Room can also confirm that no elderly woman was shot as claimed by those circulating the images. 

    Verdict: FALSE

    The CDD War Room traced the attached image to Calabar when the Police nabbed three kidnappers after abducting a former INEC staff. We can confirm that no thugs were arrested, and no elderly woman was shot in Nembe, Bayelsa State. 

    , , ,