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

    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: Did INEC Exclude APC Candidates’ Names from Final List?

    FACT CHECK: Did INEC Exclude APC Candidates’ Names from Final List?

    On October 24, 2023, a Facebook user posted on a prominent Bayelsa group on Facebook, “BAYELSA FOCUS GROUP.” He posted a picture of INEC’s final list of candidates for the 2023 Governorship Election with the caption, “INEC is merely following the court’s directive. The race is now officially over for APC.”

    Claim: INEC excluded APC candidates’ names from the final list following court orders

    Verification: 

    On June 9, 2023, INEC released the final list of candidates for the November 11 off-cycle gubernatorial elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states. In the released list, the All Progressives Congress (APC) fielded Timipre Sylva and Joshua Maciver as the party’s governorship and deputy governorship candidates. 

    However, on October 9, 2023, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja disqualified Timipre Sylva and his running mate from contesting in the November 11 gubernatorial election in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 filed by a member of the APC in the state, Demesuoyefa Kolomo. 

    Kolomo asked the court to determine whether Sylva was qualified to contest in the election, having occupied the office of governor of Bayelsa from May 29, 2007, to April 15, 2008, and May 27, 2008, to Jan. 27, 2012.

    The presiding judge, Justice Donatus Okorowo, held that allowing Sylva to contest again would breach the provision of the 1999 constitution, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as a governor of the state. The judge added that Sylva would spend more than eight years in office if allowed to participate in the election and eventually win.

    It is based on this court judgement that INEC released a press statement titled “AMENDED LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR 2023 BAYELSA STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION PURSUANT TO COURT ORDERS.”

    Attached to the statement is a 3-page list of candidates and their political parties for the 2023 off-cycle governorship election. According to the amended list of candidates, of the 16 political parties, only the APC has a blank row with the remarks reading “COURT ORDER.”

    Furthermore, the APC and its candidate have approached the Court of Appeal to overturn the decision of the Federal High Court, which would mandate INEC to recognise Sylva and Maciver as the candidates of the APC in the November 11 gubernatorial election.  

    Verdict: TRUE

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has removed the name of APC candidates from its amended candidates list for the Bayelsa governorship election due to a court order by the Federal High Court, Abuja. 

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  • FACT CHECK: Did Yahaya Bello’s security detail kill an army officer?

    FACT CHECK: Did Yahaya Bello’s security detail kill an army officer?

    Recently, the claim that the murder of an army officer caused unrest along the Abuja-Lokoja has been circulating for days on various social media platforms.

    This claim has been widely shared on platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter). Kogi State, alongside Bayelsa and Imo, is currently preparing for its upcoming governorship election. Consequently, there has been a surge in the spread of disinformation surrounding the election. This specific claim is part of a series of news stories that have stirred interest in Kogi State recently.

    On October 20, 2023, it was reported that an assassination attempt was made on the governor’s life. It was stated that his vehicle, along with other vehicles in his convoy, was targeted and fired upon during his journey from Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State, to Abuja. The commissioner of information in the state supported this claim through a press statement, stating that the assailants who ambushed the governor were wearing military uniforms, and the convoy came under attack at three different points along the route to Abuja.

    However, a few hours later, Yahaya Bello refuted the claim of an assassination attempt, describing it as a “fracas with the sister agency,” which was promptly resolved. 

    Claim: Yahaya Bello’s security detail killed an army officer, leading to a blockade on the Abuja-Lokoja Road by protesting military officers.

    Verification:

    CDD fact-checkers conducted an investigation into the validity of this claim and found no credible reports from either mainstream or traditional media sources regarding the alleged murder of an army officer. The available reports primarily focused on the supposed assassination attempt and the altercation between the governor’s security personnel and the military.

    To delve deeper into the matter, we reached out to a retired senior military officer, who informed us that there was no report of an army officer’s murder or any protests related to the deaths of military personnel. However, he did mention that retired military officers were planning a protest to demand gratuity and accrued allowances. There has also been no specific comment on the killing of an army officer by the Kogi State and FCT Police Commands.

    Verdict: ALL WE KNOW

  • FACT-CHECK: Is Justice Tsammani battling prostate cancer, confined to wheelchair?

    FACT-CHECK: Is Justice Tsammani battling prostate cancer, confined to wheelchair?

    Multiple reports circulating online claim that Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani, head of the five-man panel of the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), is battling prostate cancer and has been confined to a wheelchair.

    This is coming barely two months after the PEPC delivered its judgement on the petitions filed by Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party, and Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenging Bola Tinubu’s emergence in Nigeria’s presidential election held on February 25, 2023.

    According to the viral reports, archived here and here, Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), had travelled to visit Justice Tsammani in Paris, France.

    The reports also stated that Justice Tsammani blamed Wike for his ailment after he returned from Paris.

    Screenshots of the report

    Claim: Justice Tsammani is battling prostate cancer in a wheelchair

    Verification

    In an attempt to confirm the veracity of the reports, this writer traced the source of the news to Jackson Ude, who made the claim in a post uploaded to X (formerly Twitter) on October 18, 2023.

    Parts of Ude’s post read, “Justice Haruna Tsammani returned from Paris unable to fix his enlarged prostrate. He has been on a wheelchair and cannot walk, according to an informant at the Appeal Court.”

    Screenshot of Jackson Ude’s post on X

    The post had garnered over 140k views, 1,195k retweets, and 1,174 likes as of when it was retrieved from the microblogging platform. 

    The pidgin version of Ude’s post was posted by another verified X user as archived here. 

    Screenshot of the pidgin version of Ude’s post on X

    To further verify the claim, the writer contacted Kabir Akanbi, the deputy chief registrar of the Appeal Court in Abuja, who debunked the claim. According to him, Justice Tsammani has been consistently appearing in court.

    The writer also had a phone conversation with Justice Tsammani, which lasted over two minutes. In the conversation, the justice described the viral report as the work of mischievous makers and explained that his recent travel took him to Bauchi, where he visited his family.

    The justice explained that he has become accustomed to bad actors propagating unfounded information about judges. 

    He further stated that he sat over a case regarding the November 11 off-cycle election in Bayelsa state on Monday, October 23, adding that he would also be on seat on Friday, October 27. 

    He invited anyone who needed to confirm the widespread claims about his health to attend the court proceedings.

    Verdict: FALSE

    The viral claim that Justice Tsammani is battling prostate cancer in a wheelchair is false. In a phone conversation with Justice Tsammani, he confirmed that he has been appearing in court contrary to the widespread report that he is sick.

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  • FACT CHECK: Is this video evidence of collection of PVC in exchange for palliatives in Owerri West?

    FACT CHECK: Is this video evidence of collection of PVC in exchange for palliatives in Owerri West?

    During the week an X (formerly Twitter) user accused political actors in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of compelling voters to hand in their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in exchange for palliative items. The user posted a video claiming this amounts to voter inducement ahead of the November 11, governorship poll in Imo State.

    The X user condemned the alleged vote buying in the guise of palliatives distribution and called on residents to be part of an ‘emancipation to redeem the Imo state’. Is this video an accurate depiction of what transpired in the cause of the sharing of palliatives in the state; CDD War Room analyzed the video to verfify its authenticity

    Screenshot of the post on X

    Claim: Video shows collection of PVCs in exchange for palliatives in Owerri West

    Verification

    Upon careful observation, it was noted that the video contained the photo of the incumbent governor and his running mate on a banner, dispelling assumptions that it is an old video, which is being re-circulated. CDD War Room’s analysis revealed that the name on the voter’s card in one of the videos was registered to a person named Felix Chinedu Afam. The location was identified as Oforola in Umuguma, Owerri State.

    To further verify this information, a “soldier of mouth” (CDD’s countering disinformation agent in local communities across the off-cycle elections states) was consulted. This source confirmed the incident. According to the soldier of mouth, the incident occurred during the distribution of palliatives. Residents were required to present their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) to receive the palliative items.

    It’s worth noting that both Umuguma and Oforola are towns located in Owerri West, with Umuguma serving as the local government headquarters.

    The palliatives provided by the Federal government to the state government were part of a broader effort to support vulnerable and disadvantaged citizens in the light of the crisis precipitated by fuel subsidy removal and the wider economic fallouts of the COVID pandemic. This type of aid typically includes food items, essential supplies, or financial assistance, aimed at addressing the poverty in the land.

    In the case of the described incident, these palliatives were distributed at the local level, which is often done to ensure that the assistance reaches the intended beneficiaries effectively.

    However, it appears that the distribution process in the state was subject to a condition: presenting a Permanent Voters Card (PVC) in exchange for the palliatives.

    Verdict: TRUE

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  • FACT CHECK: Did Supreme Court bar foreign media outlets from the hearing on Obi, Atiku’s appeals?

    FACT CHECK: Did Supreme Court bar foreign media outlets from the hearing on Obi, Atiku’s appeals?

    A news report is circulating online, claiming that foreign media outlets were prohibited from attending the hearing of the appeals filed by Peter Obi; presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), and Atiku Abubakar; presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.  

    The report, with the headline, “SUPREME COURT BARS FOREIGN MEDIA HOUSES FROM ELECTION PETITIONS PROCEEDING,” was published by Sycamoretimes on October 23, 2023.

    “The Supreme Court has barred foreign media houses from covering the proceedings of the presidential elections petition, accrediting only few handpicked local media organizations. Journalists from foreign media organizations have not been allowed into the Supreme Court Premises,” the news read.

    Screenshot of the news report

    Obi and Abubakar had approached the apex court to appeal the September 6 judgement delivered by the five-man panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) over the petitions seeking to nullify the victory of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general elections.

    Claim: The Supreme Court barred foreign media outlets from the hearing of Obi, Atiku’s appeals 

    Verification

    In our effort to confirm the veracity of the news report, the CDD War Room traced the source to a verified X user, Jackson Ude. We observed that the news blog lifted the same content that Ude posted recently on X.

    Screenshot of Jackson Ude’s post on X

    We did not find any credible media reports indicating that the apex court barred foreign media outlets from covering the hearing.

    A report by Premium Times shows that lawyers, litigants, and journalists were accredited ahead of the proceedings, and screened by security operatives before gaining access to the court.

    Also, we contacted a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who attended the hearing. He confirmed the presence of media houses during the proceedings.

    He explained, “It’s a small court that was used and all the parties were restricted to 5 counsel each. Foreign media houses are not more important than the lawyers. Maybe they did not do accreditation on Sunday. Media houses were there in court.”

    Verdict: All We Know

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  • FACT CHECK:  Did ZLP Candidate Step Down for APC Ahead of Kogi State Gubernatorial Election?

    FACT CHECK:  Did ZLP Candidate Step Down for APC Ahead of Kogi State Gubernatorial Election?

    On October 20, 2023, the CDD War Room received a claim via the Check by Meedan App from a Facebook user. The claim says Fatima Suleiman, the gubernatorial candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and the only female candidate for the Kogi gubernatorial election, has stepped down and collapsed her structure for the All Progressives Congress (APC). 

    Claim: 

    ZLP gubernatorial candidate steps down for APC in Kogi

    ALL WE KNOW: 

    On June 6, 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the final list of eligible candidates and their political parties for the November 11 gubernatorial election. In Kogi state, INEC released the names of 18 political parties and their candidates. Among the candidates whose names were published was Fatima Suleiman of the ZLP. 

    The CDD War Room found that in July 2023, Fatima Suleiman of the ZLP granted an interview where she dismissed the allegation that she might step down for any of the gubernatorial candidates. 

    We found another interview, dated August 1, 2023, where she revealed that she had stepped down for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Ahmed Ododo, to continue the good work of the present administration. According to the interview, she was referred to as the former candidate of the ZLP, and she maintained that “after evaluating other candidates jostling for the governorship, Ododo appeared as the only candidate with the capacity to change the fortunes of Kogi for good.”

    We found a report of a press conference where Fatima Suleiman, alongside four other gubernatorial candidates in the state, declared their support for Ahmed Ododo of the APC. 

    The five political parties under the aegis of United Progressive Political Parties in the State and their governorship candidates announced the endorsement of the candidature of the All Progressive Congress (APC) flag bearer, Ahmed Ododo.

    The political parties and their candidates are APP – Onaji Sunday, ADP Chairman Prince Yahaya Mamam, Boot – Muhammad Umar, NRM – Bala Abdulkadir Dirisu, and ZLP – Fatima Suleiman.

    On September 15, 2023, the CDD War Room, during the pre-assessment visit to Kogi state ahead of the gubernatorial election, met with the ZLP candidate. While answering questions, she maintained that she remains the candidate of the ZLP and has no intention to step down for any candidate. 

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  • FACT CHECK: How true is claim by LP’s Achonu that events no longer hold in Orlu zone, Imo?

    FACT CHECK: How true is claim by LP’s Achonu that events no longer hold in Orlu zone, Imo?

    Athan Achonu, the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party for the November 11 off-cycle governorship election in Imo state, recently had an interview on national TV where he spoke about issues bordering on the internal wranglings of the party and the security situation in the state.

    During the interview, Achonu made multiple claims regarding the level of insecurity in Imo state, while talking about his governorship bid and his plans if elected.  

    When asked to speak to the security crisis rocking many parts of the state, Achonu described the situation as unbelievable, claiming that ceremonial events such as burials and traditional weddings are no longer held in Orlu zone.

    “The situation is unbelievable, you see dead people everywhere. People don’t go to Orlu any longer. You have a sitting governor that people from his senatorial district zone, don’t go home. No more burials in Orlu zone. No traditional weddings in Orlu zone,” Achonu said.

    Claim: Ceremonial events such as burials and traditional weddings are no longer held in Orlu zone

    Verification

    Orlu is a senatorial zone comprising 12 local government areas which include Ideato North, Ideato South, Isu, Njaba, Nkwerre, Nwangele, Oguta, and Ohaji/Egbema. Others are Orlu, Orsu, Oru East, and Oru West.

    In an effort to verify this claim, we reached out to multiple sources across various local governments in Orlu zone. The responses we received affirmed that traditional weddings and burials continue to take place in some areas within the zone amid the insecurity plaguing the state.  

    Ogechi Okehielam, who is from Nkwerre LGA under Orlu zone, noted that ceremonial events are still held daily across the district. “Those activities happen every day in Orlu zone, nothing stops it”, she said.

    Another resident from Orlu LGA, Michael Nnaji, also confirmed that ceremonial events are still held in Orlu zone. He, however, noted that “places like ISU LGA are not safe.”

    Also, Nzube Maduagwu explained that ceremonial events are still held in Oru West LGA, where he is from, and places like Oru East and Njaba LGAs even though “there are minor insecurity outbursts once in a while”.

    He said, “Where events rarely hold is in places like Orsu LGA. This place is the most hit. Last year, events were not holding at all. People were doing traditional weddings in Owerri, Abuja or Lagos. It calmed a bit this year.”

    Verdict: All We Know

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  • Did Former INEC Chairman, Jega Say 2023 Elections Were Compromised? ALL WE KNOW

    Did Former INEC Chairman, Jega Say 2023 Elections Were Compromised? ALL WE KNOW

    A news report making the rounds online claims former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, a professor, commented during a paper presentation that the 2023 elections were compromised.

    The former INEC helmsman, who presented a paper titled Electoral Reform and Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria: Review of 2022 Electoral Act (areas for further legislative actions) at a two-day retreat organized by the Senate in Ikot Ipene, Akwa Ibom State, was quoted to have said: “We have seen, in 2023 elections, the damaging effect of how people in the corridors of power get their client/partisan nominees appointed, without being thoroughly screened, and then they are influenced to compromise the integrity of elections”.

    Claim: Professor Jega assailed the conduct of the 2023 polls by describing them as compromised.

    Verification

    To verify the claim, CDD War Room requested a copy of the presentation made by the former INEC helmsman. The PowerPoint presentation titled; Electoral Reform and Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria: Review of 2022 Electoral Act (Areas for Further Legislative Action) contains 28 slides.

    We reviewed the PowerPoint slides and found nowhere in which the university don made the comment as published in the online news platforms. We also contacted Princess Hamman-Obels, Senior Research Assistant (SRA) to Professor Jega, who refuted the claim that her principal described the 2023 elections as compromised during his presentation.

    Verdict: ALL WE KNOW

    CDD War Room later received a short press statement signed by Hamman-Obels, which read thus:  “The attention of Professor Attahiru Jega, has been drawn to a misleading report published in a number of online newspapers quoting him to have commented that the 2023 elections were compromised.

    The report making the rounds is incorrect and not an accurate reflection of the presenter’s position. Professor Jega categorically denies making this particular comment about the 2023 polls. As would be seen in his presentation he made at the Senate Retreat held in Ikot Ipene, Akwa Ibom State, nowhere did he make such a statement that the 2023 elections were compromised. Professor Jega hopes this rebuttal will correct the incorrect and inaccurate reporting currently making the rounds.”

  • Viral Claim by SDP’s Ijele Alleging Manipulation of BVAS for Kogi State Governorship Poll: ALL WE KNOW

    Viral Claim by SDP’s Ijele Alleging Manipulation of BVAS for Kogi State Governorship Poll: ALL WE KNOW

    Isaiah Davies Ijele, Media Director of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), recently claimed in a statement, that the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, is plotting with staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to manipulate the Bimodal Voter Accreditation (BVAS) device for the November 11, 2023 Governorship election.

    According to the statement, which has been widely circulated on the instant messaging app, WhatsApp, the operation involves the reconfiguration and personalization of the BVAS devices.

    In a post made on the microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter), Ijele named some staff of the Commission attached with their mobile numbers, further claiming that they were lodged in the state’s government house since October 18, 2023.  

    Screenshot of the viral statement on WhatsApp

    Verification

    The CDD War Room employed the use of Truecaller, an Open Source Intelligence Tool (OSINT) to verify the mobile numbers in the viral statement.

    We observed that the names ascribed to the mobile numbers in the viral statement, did not match the names being displayed on Truecaller.

    We used another caller identity tool and got different results, with no name ascribed to the first mobile number.

    We also called the mobile numbers with the attempt to speak with the users. While the numbers ascribed to Egbunu and Adara were not connecting, our call to Ocholi’s number went through but the user did not pick up despite several attempts.

    INEC’s  Response

    We found that shortly after the statement began gaining momentum on social media, INEC issued a statement, debunking the allegations. 

    The Commission pointed out that the three persons mentioned were not associated with the configuration of the BVAS machines and were “not even in Kogi State at the moment”. 

    According to INEC, “Nicholas Ocholi is on his duty post in our Ondo State office in Akure. Ibrahim Egbunu is attending to a very close family member hospitalised in Abuja. Mohammed Adara retired last year and is no longer a staff of the Commission.”

    The Commission further added that the configuration of BVAS was to be done “simultaneously and exclusively” in the state offices where off-cycle elections will be conducted next month. 

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  • FACT CHECK: Was Bayelsa Monarch Suspended for Endorsing Timipre Sylva?

    FACT CHECK: Was Bayelsa Monarch Suspended for Endorsing Timipre Sylva?

    On October 19, 2023, a piece of news went viral and appeared on the front page of “The Point” newspaper. The headline reads, “Bayelsa suspends monarch for endorsing Sylva.”

    Claim: The Bayelsa Government has suspended a monarch for endorsing Timpre Sylva of the APC

    Verification:

    The CDD War Room traced the story to the website of “The Point” and found that the story was published on October 19, 2023. We found that the monarch, His Royal Majesty, King Boutua Collins Aranka Ibedaowei of Opokuma clan in Kolokuma/ Opokuma Local Government Area, allegedly made the comments when Timipre Sylva of the All Progressive Congress (APC) visited his palace. 

    We found a video of Timpre Sylva’s visit to the monarch. In the video, the monarch was lamenting the paltry pay of the traditional rulers in Bayelsa state. He said, “The paramount rulers, we have struggled and struggled. I am sorry to be saying this, these paramount rulers are paid N28,000 monthly, can you bare it? N28,000 that if you give to a secondary school student in boarding school will not even accept it. If I am saying it, they will say I am telling lie. Infact, when you left, another bad thing happened: somebody came as governor and reduced paramount rulers from 3rd class to 4th class and decided to pay them this N28,000; please help us.” 

    We can confirm that the Bayelsa Government has suspended the monarch following a press statement by the deputy governor of the state, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo. The statement was signed by his senior special assistant on media, Mr Doubara Atasi, and he said the suspension was due to a reported case of falsehood and misrepresentation of the chieftaincy laws of the State.

    The press statement revealed that “the Bayelsa state government pays first-class kings in the status of King Aranka the sum of N650,000 monthly. Second-class kings receive N120,000, third-class kings get N80,000, while fourth-class kings are paid the sum of N30,000 monthly.”

    Alongside the immediate suspension of King Aranka from office, the state government has set up a seven-man panel to probe allegations against him.

    The CDD War Room found that the allegation that the Bayelsa state government is paying N28,000 to monarchs is what the government considers as falsehood and misrepresentation of the chieftaincy laws of the state. Hence the suspension of the Monarch. 

    Verdict: Misleading 

    The claim is misleading because King Aranka Collins of the Opokuma clan was suspended for alleged falsehood and misrepresentation of the chieftaincy laws of the state and not for supporting Timpre Sylva of the APC.

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