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: 195 feared dead as Appeal court affirms LP candidate winner of Reps seat? 

    FACT CHECK: 195 feared dead as Appeal court affirms LP candidate winner of Reps seat? 

    A news report is circulating on social media with the headline, “195 fear dead, As Appeal Court Affirms Labour Party Candidate As Winner Of House Of Reps Seat”. The report, retrieved from the instant messaging platform, WhatsApp, was published by a news blog known as Famous Reporters on November 2, 2023.

    Screenshot of the report on WhatsApp

    Claim: 195 feared dead as Appeal court affirms LP candidate as winner of House of Reps seat

    Verification 

    CDD War Room checked the report, archived here, to evaluate the content and confirm its authenticity.  It was found that the report contains two pieces of news. 

    Screenshot of the news report

    The first news piece was about the Nigeria Court of Appeal’s ruling affirming Jesse Okay-Joe Onuakalusi of the Labour Party, as the duly elected House of Representatives member for Constituency II Oshodi-Isolo, Lagos State.

    The report states, “The court, sitting in Lagos State in a unanimous ruling by its three-member panel on Thursday, November 2, upheld Onuakalusi’s victory at the polls.”

    This was also corroborated by multiple media reports as can be seen here and here.

    The second news piece was about a statement reportedly made by the Hamas government in Gaza that 195 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Jabalia refugee camp in the Palestinian territory. This was corroborated by multiple credible reports as can be seen here, here, here, and here. We found the headline to be misleading as the two developments reported in the news story, were unrelated.  

    Verdict: MISLEADING

    We can confirm that contrary to the headline, the 195 people reportedly feared dead during the ongoing Hamas-Isreal war, had no connection with the Nigeria Court of Appeal’s ruling upholding the election victory of LP’s Federal House of Representatives candidate in Lagos State.

    , ,
    , , , ,

  • FACT CHECK: Has Governor Yahaya Bello Secured Court Order To Arrest SDP Leaders Over Alleged Terrorism Charges?

    FACT CHECK: Has Governor Yahaya Bello Secured Court Order To Arrest SDP Leaders Over Alleged Terrorism Charges?

    The Director of New Media, Muri/Sam Campaign Council of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Isaiah Ijele in a viral statement has accused the Kogi state governor of plotting to arrest some SDP leaders. According to the statement which has gone viral on Facebook , and also reported by media organisations, Bello planned on arresting these leaders through allegations linking to terrorism. Paragraph three of the SDP’s statements claims that in a bid to execute his plan, the governor has secured a court order for the purpose of arresting his opponents on alleged trumped up charges

    Claim: Yahaya Bello Secures Court Order To Arrest SDP Leaders Based On False Terrorism Charges?

    Verification

    To establish the veracity of the claim, CDD War Room spoke with Williams Ovye Aya, the Kogi state Police public relations officer. Williams who described the claim as baseless also insisted that there have been no reports of such. He added that the commission had arrested no one in relations to terrorism from the party.

    The CDD War Room contacted Moses Peter the SDP state chairman who declined to comment on the issue. CDD War Room also found a report by the Punch capturing the reaction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) director of Media and Publicity, Kogi State Campaign Council, Kingsley Fanwo.

    He reacted to the statement by the SDP calling it “another tempo of falsehood from the bottle-size, overambitious group.”

    Fanwo therefore urged security agencies to invite  Ijele for questioning, if they fail to tender facts to support their claim. It is pertinent to recall that the CDD War Room had earlier done a fact shield on claims relating to restraining court orders in the build up to the election in Kogi state. This was prompted by a viral message circulating on various social media platforms claiming that a Federal High Court had issued a fresh injunction preventing all security agencies in the country from apprehending or detaining Murtala Ajaka, the gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State. 

    Verdict: NO EVIDENCE

    The CDD War Room found no evidence to support the claim by Ijele that the governor has secured a court order to arrest SDP leaders and slam them terrorism charges.

    , ,
    , , , , ,

  • FACT CHECK: Did Kogi state government circulate memo requesting reservation of all hotel rooms?

    FACT CHECK: Did Kogi state government circulate memo requesting reservation of all hotel rooms?

    A circulating memo, purportedly originating from the Government House in Kogi State, has come to our attention. Dated October 31, the memo is titled “Request for Reservation of All Your Hotel Rooms from November 4–12, 2023.” It was addressed to all general managers and chief executive officers of hotels within the state and indicates the state government’s intention to rent and fully occupy all hotel rooms, regardless of size or classification, during the specified period.

    The memo also instructs hotel managers to submit their bills for these rooms by November 1, 2023.

    This memo has been widely shared on various social media platforms, including WhatsApp and Facebook, particularly by members of opposition parties.

    In response to the memo, the Leke/Omede campaign council of the African Democratic Party (ADC), issued a press statement, suggesting that the state government, under the leadership of Yahaya Bello, may be attempting to secure accommodations for individuals who could potentially disrupt the electoral process.

    It is worth noting that a similar memo had surfaced a few days earlier from Imo State, where the state government had similarly directed the reservation of hotel rooms. CDD War Room wrote a fact-check on said claim.

    Verification

    Kogi State is among the three states where off-cycle elections are scheduled for November 11, 2023. While the incumbent governor, Yahaya Bello, is not on the ballot, his party’s candidate, Ahmed Ododo is a major contender in the race.

    To ascertain the authenticity of these claims, the CDD War Room conducted inquiries with several hotels within the state. The manager of Edge Drive Hotel stated during a phone conversation that the government had not booked all of their hotel rooms. He explained that this would be logistically impossible, as the establishment is not government-owned. However, he was unable to confirm whether any rooms were available for booking. He mentioned that a foreign mission, just recently made reservation at the hotel.

    Managers of three other hotels in the state, namely Reverton, Emblem, and Idrinana, confirmed that they had received the aforementioned memo.

    Verdict: True

    CDD War Room has verified the claim to be true. Hotels in Kogi State did receive a memo from the government stating its readiness to “rent and occupy all rooms.” in the hotels.

    , , ,
    , ,

  • FACT CHECK: One Dead, Several Injured as Rival Party Supporters Clash in Nembe, Bayelsa State?

    On November 2, 2023, a Facebook user posted on the Bayelsa Focus Group: “Breaking News: One dead and others with various degrees of injuries as APC supporters in Nembe City attack Diri supporters in Nembe City.”

    Claim: One dead, several injured as APC supporters attack PDP supporters in Bayelsa

    Verification: 

    In August 2023, a chieftain of the Poeples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa state raised alarm on the spate of attack and violence brewing in Nembe LGA of Bayelsa state. He alleged that some law enforcement agencies and notable politicians were involved in the recent attack in Nembe community. 

    CDD War Room found that during the attack, several people were injured, while two persons lost their lives. Less than three months after the attack, the Nembe-Ogbolomabiri community, in Nembe LGA is recording a similar political attack. 

    One of our soldiers of mouth, who witnessed the incident revealed that it occurred in Nembe-Ogbolomabiri. 

    Corroborating him, another witness confirmed the claim to be true but added that he is not aware of the deaths or the casualty figure, though several persons were injured and rushed to the hospital.

    Another source noted that the incident occurred yesterday with several people injured while others were chased to their houses around Ogbolomabiri. One of the witnesses added that youths supporting APC from Basambiri were trying to make their way to Ogbolomabiri to attack PDP supporters but were stopped by the Military. Then, the youths in Ogbolomabiri supporting APC started their own attack on the PDP supporters and injured scores of them.

    Another source also confirmed the incident and added that Timi from the Iweka Chieftaincy House in Ogbolomabiri sustained injury from the attack and was feared dead. 

    The CDD War Room can confirm that there was a a violent confrontation between thugs affiliated to the APC and PDP and scores of PDP supporters suffered injuries as a result of the incident. We can confirm that one Timi suffered a serious injury and eventually lost his life due to the injury sustained. 

    Verdict: ALL WE KNOW

    The CDD War Room can confirm that a violent confrontation occured between the supporters of the APC and PDP in Nembe-Ogbolomabiri. We can confirm the death of one person with several others injured. 

  • FACT CHECK: Has Kogi State Police Commissioner, Onuoha Been transferred?

    FACT CHECK: Has Kogi State Police Commissioner, Onuoha Been transferred?

    There is a circulating claim on WhatsApp that the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, Bethrand Onuoha, has been transferred to another state. One of CDD’s trained “soldiers of mouth” in Kogi State spotted the claim and shared it for verification. 

    This claim is of concern because it comes at a time voters in Kogi State are counting down to Election Day. The Police has a pivotal role to play in ensuring the electoral terrain is safe and secure for voters to troop out and cast their ballots come November 11, 2023.

    Onuoha was posted to the Kogi State Police Command in July 2023 as the 38th police commissioner of the state. During a pre-assessment visit to Kogi, the CDD team had the opportunity to meet with the police commissioner and conduct an interview with him.

    Verification

    To verify this claim, the CDD War Room reached out to the police Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the state, who confirmed that there is no official information from the Police top brass instructing the commissioner’s transfer. He advised that such news should be disregarded and provided information about the CP’s whereabouts. According to the PRO, the commissioner was attending a retreat for all commissioners of police in Nigeria, taking place in Imo State.

    Can a CP be transferred during election?

    The decision to transfer police commissioners in Nigeria falls under the authority of the Police Service Commission, in concert with the Inspector General of Police. In preparation for the 2019 elections, police commissioners across the 36 states were reassigned to different locations to “ensure efficient policing” during the elections. Similarly, for the 2023 general elections, additional police commissioners were deployed to various states, such as Kaduna, to bolster security measures and peacekeeping during the electioneering. However, in the case of Kogi, CDD War Room found no signal from the top hierarchy of the police indicating Onuoha had been transfered out of the state.

    Verdict

    False

    ,
    , ,

  • FACT SHIELD: Muri, Yahaya and Restraining Orders

    FACT SHIELD: Muri, Yahaya and Restraining Orders

    There is a viral message circulating on various social media platforms claiming that a federal high court has issued an injunction preventing all security agencies in the country from apprehending or detaining Murtala Ajaka, the gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kogi State. This has raised questions regarding why a restraining order was issued to protect a political aspirant and the circumstances that led to such an order. The CDD War Room has compiled a comprehensive timeline of events for clarity.

    Background

    Murtala “Muri” Ajaka is the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the upcoming gubernatorial election scheduled for November 11 in Kogi State. Although he professes that he is of the “Kogi Agenda,” his critics have alleged that he is more associated with the “Igala Agenda.” Prior to securing the SDP nomination, he held a prominent position within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and had previously served as the national deputy publicity secretary of the All Progressives Party (APC). Despite being political allies with Yahaya Bello in the past, he was barred from participating in the APC primaries on the morning of the election.

    Timeline

    – In June 2023, Muri reported a purported assassination attempt on his life in Korton Kafe, situated along Lokoja Road. He alleged that the attack was sponsored by an unnamed high-ranking politician. Conversely, there are reports that Yahaya Bello accused Muri and his team of masterminding an attack on his convoy.

    – In July 2023, Muri asserted that security operatives, acting on the orders of Yahaya Bello, had invaded his home in Abuja. The state government disassociated itself from these allegations and advised Ajaka to resolve any issues he had with security operatives. 

    In the same month, Muri approached a federal high court in Abuja, expressing concerns about his personal safety and, through a motion ex-parte and an affidavit of urgency, requesting the court to protect his fundamental rights, including the right to life, personal dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, freedom of expression, and peaceful assembly. Yahaya Bello was identified as the 1st Respondent, with the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector-General of Police, the Commissioner of Police (Kogi State Command), the Department of State Services, and its Director General, the Director of DSS (Kogi State Command), the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Chief of Naval Staff listed as the 2nd to 11th Respondents.

    – In July, Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer in Nigeria, submitted a petition to the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, referring to the assassination attempt on Muri in June. He contended that the assailants were dressed in police uniforms and drove Kogi state official vehicles. He also mentioned the invasion of Muri’s Abuja residence and accused the Kogi state governor of employing state and non-state actors to intimidate political opponents.

    Decision of the court

    The court found merit in the motion and issued an order that “restrained the respondents, their agents, servants, and anyone acting on their behalf from arresting, inviting, detaining, or threatening the applicant’s life and property pending the hearing and determination of the substantive case.” The matter was subsequently adjourned. In September 2023, when the case was heard, the federal high court reserved judgement and issued a ruling that continued to prohibit the arrest of the candidate until the final judgement is delivered.

    Not a single story

    However, Muri has been accused by the Kogi State Police Command of making baseless claims about planned attacks against himself and his supporters. Muri in turn issued a statement, alleging that Yahaya Bello was collaborating with security operatives to unleash terror on his supporters. The police command stated that this narrative was spread to tarnish the reputation and integrity of the institution. 

    It was also reported that some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the state demanded that Muri be declared wanted  due to his refusal to comply with invitations from security agencies to answer questions regarding his involvement in political violence.

    Other candidates and the restraining order

    Leke Abejide, the gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), also sought the court’s protection and the enforcement of his fundamental human rights against arrest or detention by Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello. 

    ,
    , , , , ,

  • FACT CHECK: Are these bank documents evidence that Chagoury Group paid £94,530,000 to Naaim Mahmud Yakubu, INEC chairman’s son?

    FACT CHECK: Are these bank documents evidence that Chagoury Group paid £94,530,000 to Naaim Mahmud Yakubu, INEC chairman’s son?

    On November 30, 2022, a claim went viral on WhatsApp alleging that the Chagoury group is owned by Tinubu’s allies in France and that they paid the sum of £94, 530, 000 ( N112, 490, 700 billion) to the account of INEC chairman, Professor Mahmud Yakubu’s son, Naaim Mahmud Yakubu, on February 3, 2023, three weeks to the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria. 

    Attached to the claim are images of an HSBC Continental Europe receipt and an incoming payment notification mail. Are these reciepts evidence of the claim? 

    Claim: Receipts from HSBC show Chagoury Group paid £94, 530, 000 to Naaim Mahmud Yakubu, INEC chairman’s son

    Verification: 

    The CDD War Room traced the claim and attached images to a Twitter user’s page. However, the tweet has been deleted. 

    We got hold of the images attached to the claim and found some discrepancies, and evidence of manipulation. 

    The first one is the sentence that reads, “Your transaction has been successfully processes at 09:50 CET on 2023-02-03.” This is clearly a typographical error made by whoever edited the receipt, as the sentence is supposed to be “Your transaction has been successfully processed at 09:50 CET on 2023-02-03.”

    The second discrepancy is that the amount “£94, 530, 000” has a darker shade of black than all other text on the attached receipts. 

    Finally, the important details on the receipt, such as the reference number, beneficiary and sender’s account details that would have helped get more details about the alleged transaction are covered.  

    Verdict: FALSE

    The bank notifications being circulated to make the claim that the Chagoury group paid £94, 530, 000 to Naaim Mahmud Yakubu, the INEC chairman’s son have been apparently manipulated. We can confirm that the receipt were edited and are clearly not from the HSBC Continental Europe.  

    ,
    , , ,

  • FACT CHECK: How true is the claim that bandits have asked all churches in Nigeria to shut down?

    FACT CHECK: How true is the claim that bandits have asked all churches in Nigeria to shut down?

    A video is making the rounds on social media with the claim that bandits have issued threat letters in which they have ordered all churches in Nigeria to shut down.

    The video, which was retrieved from WhatsApp on Sunday, October 29, 2023, shows a social media influencer with the alias Edobabe, alongside a clip of a press briefing by officers of the Nigeria Police. 

    The police officer seen speaking in the video could be heard asking religious centres to be security conscious following a threat letter he had received.

    “The threat letters were just sent to the churches. The threat letter was dropped at around the headquarters and was brought to me. I was the one that opened the envelope, read the threat letter. On seeing that, I now invited the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to tell them about the threat. Whether it is real or not, we have to be security conscious. So, I gave them copies of the letter so that they will adjust their programs in the church. Instead of closing late, they should close on time,” parts of his statement read.

    Screenshot of the viral video on WhatsApp

    The latter part of the three-minute forty-seven-second video shows Edobabe asking people to share the footage widely.

    Claim: Bandits sent threat letters, asking all churches in Nigeria to close down 

    Verification 

    In the process of examining the authenticity of the claim, this researcher conducted a Google Reverse Search to confirm when and where the Police press briefing took place. It was found that the footage had been online since 2021.

    In June 2022, the footage of the police press briefing was widely circulated across social media platforms as can be seen here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. It was shared with the narrative that the police had confirmed the receipt of a threat letter instructing all churches in Nigeria to close for three months. 

    The exact video retrieved from WhatsApp was found to have been uploaded to YouTube in June 2022. Also in March 2023, the footage of the police briefing was shared by a YouTube user,  Blessing Obi.

    However, further investigation by this researcher revealed that the scene captured in the viral footage was the moment when the Commissioner of Police in Zamfara State, Ayuba Elkanah, addressed journalists in December 2021. 

    At the press briefing which took place in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara, Eikanah disclosed that the State Police command had received a threat letter from suspected armed bandits. The letter was directed at the Christian community, asking churches in the state to close down within three years or risk facing fierce attacks.

    This development was corroborated by multiple media reports, as seen here, here, and here.

    Verdict: FALSE

    CDD War Room confirms that the viral video is an old video of a press briefing held by the Zamfara State Police Command in 2021. The State CP had addressed journalists about a threat letter from suspected bandits, asking churches in Zamfara state to close down.

    ,
    , , , , , ,

  • FACT CHECK: Imo State Government Takes Over All Hotel Rooms In Owerri For One Week?

    FACT CHECK: Imo State Government Takes Over All Hotel Rooms In Owerri For One Week?

    On October 30, 2023, Sahara Reporters posted on their verified X page (formerly Twitter) that “November Election: Imo State Government Takes Over All Hotel Rooms In Owerri For One Week.” 

    Sahara Reporter’s post on X

    A similar version of the claim was retrieved from our Check by Meedan platform from one of our soldiers of mouth in Owerri, Imo state, with another version circulating across WhatsApp. 

    Attached to the claim is an image of a memo signed by the commissioner for Tourism with the seal of the Imo State’s Ministry of Tourism addressed to all “Chief Executive Officers of Hotels in Owerri Metropolis and All General Managers of Hotels in Owerri Metropolis.”

    The viral letter purportedly from the Imo state government

    Claim: Imo State Government has taken over all hotel rooms in Owerri for one week, ahead of the November 11 gubernatorial election 

    Verification:

    The gubernatorial election for Imo State is scheduled for November 11, 2023. The incumbent governor, Hope Uzodinma, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is seeking a second term in office. 

    The CDD War Room found that the letter, dated October 25, 2023, and signed by Jerry Egemba, came from the state government and was sent to hotel owners in Owerri, the capital of Imo State. We spoke with Jerry Egemba, the commissioner who signed the letter, and he confirmed that the letter emanated from the Ministry of Tourism, Imo State. 

    He, however clarified that the memo was to inform the hotel owners that guests and election observers are coming from within and outside the country. Therefore, the rooms should be reserved for them for the election period.

    The commissioner added that there are reports that thugs, miscreants and people of questionable character might occupy the hotel rooms ahead of the election while “important people will be left with no rooms to stay. The State Government, therefore, issued the directives to all hotels to reserve the rooms for people who have official assignments related to the election and not for thugs.” 

    We spoke to some hotel owners enquiring about room availability between 4th and 12th November. They affirmed that there are available rooms for the period, and they will be reserved for our guests as soon as we make the payment.

    Verdict: All We Know

    The CDD War Room found that the government communicated to the hotels signaling its intention to “rent and occupy” all hotel rooms in Owerri Metropolis. However, the tourism commissioner clarified that the memo was sent so that the hotels will reserve rooms for guests on official assignments. The commissioner further explained that there was information that miscreants may decide to occupy hotels in the state, thereby denying genuine guests hotel space. Some hotel owners also affirmed that rooms are available in their hotels between 4th to 12th November.

    ,
    , , , , ,

  • FACT CHECK: Has Kogi State Information Commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo Been Sacked?

    FACT CHECK: Has Kogi State Information Commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo Been Sacked?

    On October 25, 2023, a news was published by an online news platform, “4 The Advocate”, went viral. According to the headline “Breaking News: Gov. Yahaya Bello Sacks Kogi State Commissioner For Information, Evangelist Kingsley Fanwo”

    Claim: Kogi governor Yahaya Bello sacks commissioner for information, Kingsley Fanwo

    Verification: 

    Kingsley Fanwo was confirmed as the commissioner for information and communications in Kogi state for a second term in July 2022, having been confirmed as a commissioner for the first time in January 2020 by the state House of Assembly. He resigned to contest for the House of Representatives seat in Yagba Federal constituency, but lost to Folusho Olafemi. He was, however, renominated as a commissioner by Yahaya Bello, the governor of Kogi state.

    Until he was appointed a commissioner, he had served in various capacities as the chief press secretary to the governor, director-general of media and publicity to the Governor, special adviser on information and communications strategy, and chairman of the Kogi State Information Council. 

    He doubles as the director general of the Kogi State Campaign Council, directorate of media & publicity.

    On October 22, 2023, Fanwo, in his capacity as the commissioner for information and communications, released a statement alleging that the governor escaped an assassination attempt along the Lokoja-Abuja highway.  

    However, this statement generated mixed reactions as the governor subsequently dismissed the assassination attempt. Yahaya Bello, in a press statement, contradicted his government’s chief spokesperson by stating there was no assassination attempt on him. He added that the issue reported on the Lokoja-Abuja highway was a “fracas” between the security aides attached to his convoy and a sister security agency. 

    Amidst the news that he had been allegedly sacked, the CDD War Room reached out to the commissioner, and he promptly replied. He dismissed the news as “Nothing like that. Fake news.” At the time of producing this fact check, there has been no communication from the Kogi State Governor’s office indicating that the commissioner had been sacked. CDD War Room also found no credible media reporting the sack of the commissioner.

    Verdict: FALSE

    The CDD War Room reached out to Kingsley Fanwo, and he dismissed the claim that the governor had sacked him. Hence, he stressed that he remains the commissioner for information and communications for Kogi State. 

    ,
    , , , ,