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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: Has Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Fixed September 16 for Judgement?

    FACT CHECK: Has Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Fixed September 16 for Judgement?

    On the morning of Monday, August 28, 2023, Nigerians awoke to the news that the much-anticipated Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) judgement had been scheduled for September 16, 2023. 

    Going by discussions on social media, the date is anticipated to be when the election tribunal court will announce its verdict regarding the election petitions filed by Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi and the Labour Party (LP), and the Allied People’s Movement (APM). These petitions contest the declaration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the presidential election of February 23, 2023. The respondents in this case are Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu, his deputy, vice president, Kashim Shettima, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The presidential election petition tribunal panel was inaugurated in November 2022, and it started the pre-hearing of petitions on May 8, 2023. Atiku filed his petition on March 21, 2023, which will be exactly 180 days on September 16, 2023. According to Section 132 subsections (7 and 8) of the Electoral Act, the tribunal must deliver judgement within 180 days of the filing of the petition. Peter Obi filed his 21 days later. Because the hearing was consolidated on May 23, 2023, the Tribunal was able to hear the petitions concurrently. There have thus been projections and speculations that the judgement for the petitions will be delivered on the same day.

    It is however, pertinent to stress that no reputable traditional news medium has reported on or verified the claim that September 16, 2023 has been set for the Tribunal’s judgement.

    Verification

    To probe further and verify the authenticity of the claim, CDD War Room contacted a Senior Advocate representing one of the parties involved in the petition, who stated that the legal team had not yet been served with a hearing notice.

    The standard procedure is that the parties—petitioners and respondents—are served a hearing notice by the court before the date of the hearing, or in this case, judgement. The journalists who cover the tribunal also stated that no date has been set yet.

    Verdict: No Evidence. 

    As at the time of producing this fact check, the claim that judgement for the presidential election petition is set to be delivered on September 16 cannot be authenticated by CDD War Room. September 16 is, however, the last day of the stipulated 180 days contained in the Electoral Act.

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  • Did Nigeria Apply To Join BRICS? All we know

    Did Nigeria Apply To Join BRICS? All we know

    On August 24, 2023, Linda Ikeji, a popular online blogger, posted that BRICS, an international grouping, which is made up of Russia, and emerging economies in the global South, rejected Nigeria’s bid to join it. This news went viral shortly after the 15th BRICS summit in South Africa, where the group invited six countries to become members.

    The invitation was contained in an address by Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa, after the three-day summit, which ended in Johannesburg. The invited countries are Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. 

    During the closing session, Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, who represented his principal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the summit delivered remarks. Until the expansion to accommodate more countries, the BRICS group comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. 

    Requirements and Procedures for BRICS Membership

    The CDD War Room found that there is no formal application procedure or criteria to become a BRICS member. However, a member nation can either recommend another country for membership, extend invitation to a country, or an interested country will submit their application to become a member of the BRICS. 

    As of July 2023, more than 40 countries had shown interest in joining BRICS, including 22 countries which had formally requested to join.

    We found a report that the criteria of qualification pushed by the member nations include a GDP of $400 billion and BRICS trade of $50 billion. There are non-economic parameters that require all intending members should be United Nation (UN) members and democracies. 

    In another report, we found that India, one of the BRICS member nation is pressing for the establishment of a well-defined criteria for the proposed addition of new members, instead of accepting members solely on the basis of recommendation by existing BRICS countries. 

    If the proposal is adopted, the admission and rejection of member nations— asides the recently invited countries— will be based on a standard criteria that will be established by existing BRICS member nations.

    Claim: BRICS rejects Nigeria’s bid to join the bloc

    Verification: ALL WE KNOW

    Firstly, Nigeria’s Vice President, who represented the country at the just-concluded BRICS summit, stated that the country did not apply to join the BRICS group of Nations. According to Olusola Abiola, Director of Information in the Vice President’s office, Shettima’s attendance was part of Nigeria’s bid towards an international alliance for economic investments. 

    In an interview, Kashim Shettima said, “So far, we have not applied for the membership of BRICS and is mentally informed by the fact that my principal, President Bola Tinubu, is a true democrat that believes in consensus building and there are so many variables that need to be taken into cognisance. We have to evaluate so many tendencies, issues and scope that require engagement with the Economic Advisory Council, with the Federal Executive Council, and even with the National Assembly before an informed decision towards joining the BRICS will be taken.”

    Also, there are reports by credible media houses indicating that Nigeria did not apply to join BRICS. The reports can be found here, and here.

    However, we found an interview granted by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor with WION’s diplomatic correspondent, Sidhant Sibal, where she stated that Nigeria, among other nations, have signified interest. In the interview, she was asked, “How many countries have sent you the invite that they want to be part…” She replied, “Well, on my desk, I suspect 12 letters. And I suspect other foreign ministers have had approaches from their own region…. See, they’ve come out publicly. Saudi Arabia is one… United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Algeria, and Argentina, so it’s a growing list of Mexico and Nigeria. So, there’s huge interest worldwide. And once we’ve shaped the criteria, we will then make the decision.”

    ALL WE KNOW

    The CDD War Room found that even though the vice president said the country has not applied to join BRICS, we found an interview where South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Naledi Pandor said Nigeria had shown interest. 

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  • All you need to know about the Wagner group’s operations in Africa

    All you need to know about the Wagner group’s operations in Africa

    With the widely reported death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner group, and later enstranged ally of Russian President Vladmir Putin, there has been a groundswell of online interest about the group, particularly its activities in Africa. Online speculations have also been rife about which African countries are currently hosting the mercenary group and where the group would likely extend its tentacles to. Although the demise of the Wagner founder and leader has created uncertainty about the group’s future, there remains a need to address the myths and speculations, which have trailed the group. The Wagner group is a Russian private military company (PMC), led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a wealthy businessman said to have a criminal record. 

    The Wagner group is a complex network of businesses and mercenary groups whose operations have been closely tied to the Russian military and intelligence community. It’s believed that they have around five thousand fighters spread throughout Africa. The group is made up of ex-Russian soldiers, ex convicts, and individuals from other countries.

    The Wagner group functions as a proxy force for the Russian government, and has been instrumental in providing Moscow with a plausible degree of deniability for its military activity abroad. Analysts believe that by deploying the PMC, Russia can distance itself from direct involvement in foreign interventions, thus obscuring the true extent of its military engagements and downplaying the actual number of casualties incurred.

    Starting from 2017, the Wagner group has been active in several African nations. It has frequently offered direct military assistance and security services to the groups they’re working with. Alongside this, they’ve also been involved in spreading propaganda.

    The PMC has been reported to operate alongside Syrian government forces in the course of the civil war providing additional combat power and expertise. Their involvement has been particularly notable in battles against rebel groups and extremist organizations like ISIS.

    In 2018, Wagner successfully captured the Conoco field, where Syria’s major gas facility is located. In 2020, Wagner began recruiting Syrians to join Wagner’s ranks and subsequently transported them to Libya.

    Wagner Group in Africa

    Around 2018, about one thousand Wagner soldiers went into the Central African Republic (CAR) to protect President Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s government. They were there to defend the government against rebel attacks on the capital, Bangui and protect President Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s government; about one thousand Wagner soldiers went into the Central African Republic around 2018.

     As a result, companies connected to Wagner were given special rights to carrying on logging without restrictions and were given control of the valuable Ndassima gold mine. 

    Similarly, in 2019, Wagner Group troops were sent to Mozambique to assist in fighting against the self-proclaimed Islamic State in the northern Cabo Delgado province. However, they couldn’t stop the insurgency and left the area after a few months.

    In Sudan, Wagner is said to have been active in the country since 2017 amidst a power tussle.

    While there have been various accounts of the group’s activities, it is said that in 2017, Sudan’s former President Omar al-Bashir made a series of agreements with the Russian government while visiting Moscow. These agreements included plans for Russia to establish a naval base at Port Sudan on the Red Sea. Additionally, there were deals involving gold mining, with a Russian company called M Invest and the Sudanese Ministry of Minerals.

    However, the U.S. Treasury Department claims that M Invest and its subsidiary group, Meroe Gold, are disguises for the activities of the Wagner Group in Sudan. This is significant because Sudan is a major gold producer in Africa. Then Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, in 2020, stated that Yevgeniy Prigozhin and his network are exploiting Sudan’s natural resources for their own benefit and spreading negative influence globally. As a response, both M Invest and Meroe have been specifically targeted with sanctions imposed by the U.S.

    The CNN in its investigation stated that gold has been transported over land to the Central African Republic (CAR), a place where the Wagner Group is known to be operating and these exports have not been officially recorded in Sudan’s trade data.

    In 2019, Wagner was linked to supporting the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by General Khalifa Haftar. Wagner forces were reported to have fought alongside the LNA during its attempt to capture the capital city, Tripoli, from the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA). This intensified the conflict and added a new layer of complexity to the already complex Libyan civil war.

    Human Rights Concerns

    Wagner forces in Libya have faced allegations of human rights abuses, including unlawful killings and placing landmines near civilians. Their involvement reflects Russia’s support for General Haftar, deepening the geopolitical aspects of the conflict.

    Russian Misinformation

    In late October 2019, Facebook stopped some accounts that were part of a Russian fake news effort connected to Yevgeny Prigozhin. This effort focused on eight African countries. Some of these Facebook accounts were linked to the Wagner Group. They were involved in an operation that supported possible future leaders in Libya. This operation had people from Egypt managing pages. The pages posted things that made people remember Muammar Gaddafi and also support his son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi.

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  • All You Need to Know About the Federal Government’s N5 Billion Palliatives

    All You Need to Know About the Federal Government’s N5 Billion Palliatives

    On August 17, 2023, the Governor of Borno, Babagana Zulum, alongside his colleagues, announced the resolution of the National Economic Council. 

    It is pertinent to recall that shortly after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023 the price skyrocketed from about N175 to about N545. Challenges with exchange rate have further resulted in price increases, especially after the government’s decision to float the rates.  

    To cushion the effect of the subsidy removal, the Federal Government initially announced a world bank intervention in the form of conditional cash transfers to poor households. According to the palliative, N8,000 will be shared among 12 million low-income earners spread across the country for a period of six months. The plan was for a total of $800 million loan facility to be utilised for the cash transfer.

    Shortly after the announcement, the decision was met with condemnation and outcry by Nigerians. Citizens queried the impact of the conditional cash transfer implemented by the immediate Muhammadu Buhari-led administration. They, therefore, rejected what they described as a failed palliative program, which they said lacked accountability and transparency. 

    It was on this premise that the National Economic Council went back to the drawing board to seek an alternative measure to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy.

    Who Constitutes the National Economic Council?

    The National Economic Council (NEC) in Nigeria was established by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended); Section 153(1) and Paragraphs 18 & 19 of Part I of the third schedule. 

    On assumption of office, Bola Tinubu inaugurated the National Economic Council which is headed by Kashim Shettima, the vice president. The economic body comprises all 36 state governors, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and other co-opted Government officials.

    The primary function of this body is to “assist the president in the formulation and implementation of policies that will help to actualise its economic programs of the country.” 

    The NEC will also help to coordinate Nigeria’s economic planning efforts at both the Federal, State, and Local Government levels.” 

    At the inauguration, the president charged the newly inaugurated council to support his administration in transforming the economic Fortunes of the country.

    Tinubu added that the task of growing the nation’s economy is quite enormous and that there must be “no excuse for failure”.

    The National Economic Council (NEC) Rolls out Palliatives

    Recently the National Economic Council disclosed that the Federal Government has approved the disbursement of N5 billion each to all the 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. 

    While speaking after the NEC meeting, Governor Babagana Zulum added that the fund would be distributed to all states alongside five trucks of rice each to all the 36 state governors.

    He added that the governors will use the disbursed funds to procure 100,000 bags of rice, 40,000 bags of maize, and fertilizers that will be distributed to the poor people in the respective states. 

    Therefore, the fund is doled out to the governors to enable them to procure food items for distribution to the poor in their respective states, not to be shared or distributed as cash gifts to the people. 

    Furthermore, the bone of contention is whether the N5 billion palliative is a “gift” from the Federal Government to the states or a loan facility that will be repaid. 

    Is the N5 billion a Gift or Loan?

    The Borno state governor announced that 52 per cent of the funds were given to all states and the FCT as a grant to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal. 

    However, 48 per cent of the funds were given as loans that would be repaid by all states and the FCT. 

    Therefore, every state got a grant of N2.6 billion and a loan of N2.4 billion to be paid back on an instalment basis within 20 months. 

    The implication is that for the next 20 months, every state will have to pay back N120 million from the allocation received from the FG to service the loan received. Moreso, since the funds will be shared as a palliative between the State and Local Government,  the two arms of government will make the repayment to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

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  • FACT CHECK: Did a Russian Aircraft Carrying Wagner fighters land in Niamey, Niger?

    FACT CHECK: Did a Russian Aircraft Carrying Wagner fighters land in Niamey, Niger?

    A Nigerian blog in a news report claimed that a Russian aircraft carrying Wagner fighters had landed in Niger.

    The report was published as breaking news with the tag, “A Russian aircraft carrying hundreds of Wagner fighters has landed in Niamey, the capital of Niger.”

    CDD War Room ran a check to verify the authenticity of the claim.

    Verification

    The news report circulated through the Opera news app and was traced to have originated from the blog “awardnobs“. Upon investigation, the blog in question appears to exhibit characteristics of ‘clickbait content’. The initial headline promises a substantial story, but upon clicking, only a brief description is provided with a link to continue reading.

    This behaviour is often indicative of websites aiming to generate traffic through sensational headlines while offering minimal substantive content. Furthermore, attempting to access the complete story leads users to a page filled with intrusive ads.

    This news story was also seen in other blogs with the same headline.

    CDD War Room further tracked the airplane used in the picture posted on the site. We tracked from August 19, 2023, till August 21, 2023, a day prior and a day after the story was published.

    On August 19, 2023, the aircraft was traced to have left an unknown location close to Dayr `Ali in Syria at 0.05 UTC and arrived 03;13 UTC at an unknown location close to Libya.

    On August 20, 2023, the aircraft was traced to an unknown location close to Qaryat al Bayda in Libya where it departed at 07:35 UTC and arrived at 10:28 UTC at an unknown location close to  Mayda ‘a and Al Bahhariyah.

    On August 21, 2023, the aircraft was traced to an unknown location in Aktau Aktay of Kazakhstan where it departed at 02:35 UTC and arrived at 05:17 UTC at Starkovo, Russia.

    Using a reverse image search we found the exact image describing the image as an emergency plane. It was published in May 13, 2023.

    Further enquiry through advanced search indicate that no credible media carried the news report. 

    This is however not the first time it has been alleged that Wagner fighters have landed in Niger. CDD War Room had on August 8, 2023, fact-checked a claim that the Wagner group had confirmed the presence of its armed/combat division in the Niger Republic. 

    The Wagner group officially known as “PMC Wagner”  is a private military company controlled by Yevgeny Prigozhin, an ally of Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia. Since it was founded in 2014, Wagner forces have been active in Africa and the Middle East– having grown from about 5,000 to 25,000 troops.

    Verdict: No Evidence 

    Although the craft was traced close to other African countries, there is no evidence to show the plane arrived in Niger with Wagner fighters on board.

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  • FACT CHECK: How true is the claim by Adewunmi, Gatefield’s lead strategist, about CDD’s fact check?

    FACT CHECK: How true is the claim by Adewunmi, Gatefield’s lead strategist, about CDD’s fact check?

    Adewunmi Emoruwa, a lead strategist at Gatefield, has claimed that the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) West Africa, wrongly labelled a proven fact as false. 

    In a tweet posted on Monday, August 21, 2023, Emoruwa said, “CDD West Africa falsely claimed an actual fact was false using two false equivalencies that showed a lack of technical depth.”

    The Twitter post has since garnered over 155,000 views, 154 reposts and 240 likes as of the time it was retrieved from the microblogging platform.

    This was in response to a report published by the Centre’s fact-checking unit about a context-deficient claim made by Adewunmi in July 2023.

    Screenshot of the Twitter post

    Claim: CDD West Africa wrongly labelled a proven fact as false

    Verification

    In a tweet dated July 9, 2023, Adewunmi Emoruwa said, “Nigeria is the 4th largest sugary drinks consuming country on earth”. This gives the impression that Nigeria is ranked the 4th largest consumer of sugary drinks globally as of the time the tweet was made.

    However, the CDD War Room checked and found the claim to be inaccurate as the data by Euromonitor International where Nigeria was ranked the 4th largest soft drinks consuming country, was based on the volume of sales recorded in the year 2016, seven years ago. 

    We further checked for recent data and found no statistics stating that Nigeria is among the top 4 countries with the highest consumption of sugary drinks globally as of July 2023.

    A survey by Statista on the per capita consumption of carbonated soft drinks in 2019 revealed that Nigeria was not among the top 5 countries globally. Similarly, A 2023 report by the World Population Review (WPR) on soda consumption, shows that Nigeria was not ranked among the top 5 countries with the highest consumption globally. 

    For context, sugary drinks, also categorized as sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), refer to any beverage with added sugar or other sweeteners, according to the Harvard School of public health. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that sugary drinks are liquids that are sweetened with various forms of added sugars.

    After discovering that there was no recent data ranking Nigeria as the 4th largest sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consuming country globally, the CDD War Room found the claim to be misleading and inaccurate.

    A month after the publication of the fact check, Adewunmi sent a rejoinder where he cited reports from The Punch, Businessday, and The Nation as the sources of the claim he made in a tweet he posted on July 9, 2023.  However, we assessed all these reports, published in 2017, and found that they all made it clear that Nigeria was ranked according to the sales made in 2016. 

    One of the reports by The Nation read, “Nigeria ranked fourth globally in total volume sales of soft drinks in 2016, statistics from Euromonitor International, global market intelligence research publishers has revealed.” 

    Similarly, Adewunmi also referred to a 2022 analysis published by Premium Times. However, we found that Premium Times made proper reference to the 2016 global soft drinks market analysis without giving the impression that Nigeria was ranked the fourth largest sugary drinks consumer in the world at the time of the report.

    Verdict: Misleading

    The claim by Adewunmi Emoruwa that CDD West Africa wrongly labelled a proven fact as false, is misleading. The CDD War Room confirms the fact-check on the claim which implied Nigeria ranked as the 4th largest consumer of sugary drinks as of July 2023, clarified that the claim was inaccurate, as recent data show that Nigeria was not among the top 5 countries globally in terms of sugary drinks consumption. The report established that the data, which had ranked Nigeria 4th in soft drinks consumption, was based on sales recorded in 2016, which was 7 years ago.

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  • FACT CHECK: Tchiani flees presidential palace amidst protest over unpaid salaries? 

    FACT CHECK: Tchiani flees presidential palace amidst protest over unpaid salaries? 

    A report circulating online has claimed that Abdourahmane Tchiani, the military junta leader in Niger, has fled the presidential palace in Niamey, the nation’s capital.

    The report, as can be seen here, here, here, and here, alleged that Tchiani’s departure from the palace coincided with protests by fellow members of the presidential guard over unpaid salaries.

    Tchiani appointed himself head of the country’s new military government in July 2023, following the suspension of the democratically elected government led by Mohamed Bazoum. 

    Screenshot of the report on Twitter

    Claim: Abdourahmane Tchiani fled presidential palace following protests over unpaid salaries

    Verification

    The CDD War Room observed that the viral claim that Tchiani had fled the presidential palace took flight on Saturday, August 19, 2023. 

    Meanwhile, a delegation from the Economic West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, led by Abdulsalami Abubakar, a former Nigerian head of state, touched down in Niamey where they met with the ousted Nigerien president, Bazoum, as well as the junta leader, Tchani, on Saturday.

    Similarly, Tchiani announced on Saturday night that the military junta would start a transition process and hand over in three years’ time. He also unveiled plans for a committee, set to be constituted within one month, to sculpt a new constitutional framework for the nation. These developments were reported by multiple credible media outlet.  

    We found no credible reports to substantiate the claim that Tchiani had fled the presidential palace amidst protest over unpaid salaries. We can confirm that, as of the time of filing this fact-check, Tchiani remains the head of the Nigerien military government, maintaining his residence within the confines of the presidential palace in Niamey.

    Verdict: False

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  • FACT CHECK: Did Osun appoint SSA to government house swimming pool and Oranmiyan staff?

    Two circulars from the Osun State government have been circulating online with controversial claims. One of the circulars announces an appointment of a “Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Government House Pool,” while the other designates an appointee as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Oranmiyan New Town & Grown Area Development.” Both circulars are dated August 9, 2023, and the appointments are set to take effect on August 1, 2023.

    These circulars, shared by prominent microblogging pages on social media, were interpreted by users as appointments related to overseeing the government house swimming pool and the famed Oranmiyan staff location.

    Claim: Osun State governor appointed SSA to government house swimming pool and Oranmiyan staff

    Verification

    Olawale Rasheed, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) and Spokesperson to the Governor of Osun State, confirmed the authenticity of these circulars and the appointments in a telephone conversation with the CDD War Room. He clarified that the term “pool” actually refers to the transportation division of the government house. According to him, the appointment of the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) was necessitated by the need for a politically accountable individual to oversee government-owned vehicles and the activities of associated drivers. He added that the position had been established during the prior APC administration.

    Rasheed also elaborated that the Oranmiyan New Town and Grown Area Development Project is a diaspora estate development initiative situated in Osogbo. It allows Osun indigenes living abroad to purchase plots that will be developed on their behalf. The role of the SSA is to ensure transparency and safeguard the interests of diaspora investors.

    Further investigation by the CDD War Room revealed that the Oranmiyan New Town scheme was initiated in 2014 during Rauf Aregbesola’s administration. The project aimed to create an aesthetically pleasing town environment for residence and work, functioning as a satellite to an existing urban center. 

    It was designed to accommodate a population of over 80,000 people and feature essential infrastructure such as roads, electricity, water supply, drainage systems, sewage facilities, and communal amenities. The project covered approximately 2,572 hectares, including the 6,340 acres obtained by Chief Obafemi Awolowo between 1962 and 1966.

    In 2019, during Gboyega Oyetola’s administration, reports emerged of meetings held by Osun state elders to encourage diaspora indigenes to invest in the project. The Oranmiyan new town project was reported to be a success during the unveiling of other Osun “New Town Projects.”

    What is the role of the SSA? 

    The role of the Senior Special Assistant is provided for by Section 196 of the Nigerian Constitution, which grants the governor the authority to appoint advisers for assistance in his duties. The State House of Assembly defines the number and compensation of these appointees. Although the constitution outlines the adviser’s role, the specifics of the special assistant’s duties can be inferred from it.

    Verdict: False 

    Contrary to misconceptions, the Osun state government’s appointments were not for Senior Special Assistants to oversee the government house swimming pool or the Oranmiyan staff. Instead, the appointments are tailored for more distinct responsibilities.

    The Osun State governor spokesperson, both in a telephone conversation and a statement made available to the CDD War Room, also debunked the claim.

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  • FACT CHECK: Did Biden say a dead man ruled Nigeria for six years? 

    FACT CHECK: Did Biden say a dead man ruled Nigeria for six years? 

    By Daily Trust

    On August 13, 2023, a 47-second video that circulated on the internet and was widely shared on WhatsApp suggested that the President of the United States of America (USA), Joe Biden, said, “Nigeria is the only country where a dead man has been ruling the country for six years without them knowing.”

    The alleged video showed Sophie Raworth, a BBC broadcaster, reporting on a UK migrant scheme in Rwanda before switching to Biden, who was seen saying that Nigeria had been ruled by a dead man for six years. This is not the first time a claim has been made about the death of  Nigeria’s former president. 

    It is worthy of note that the last sitting president that died while in office was Umaru Yaradua. He died on May 5, 2010 and his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan, who was the acting president, was immediately sworn-in as the president.

    Verification

    CDD fact checkers examined the video using Google Reverse Image Search, and the results revealed that the video of Biden is a deep fake. Additional examinations revealed a change in contrast and a jump cut in the video. In an extended version of the purported news report, the BBC broadcaster Raworth was seen reporting on other issues, but nothing about Nigeria’s former president was mentioned.

    Verdict: False

    Based on our investigation using digital tools and based on available information, we can confirm that the video circulating on WhatsApp claiming Biden said Nigeria was ruled by a dead man for six years is false.

  • FACT CHECK: Is Wike the First Southerner to Become a ‘Full’ FCT Minister? 

    FACT CHECK: Is Wike the First Southerner to Become a ‘Full’ FCT Minister? 

    On August 16, 2023, the presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale announced the ministerial portfolios for the nominees that will serve as cabinet members in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The announcement comes two weeks after the nominees appeared before the National Assembly for screening. 

    Since the portfolios were assigned and made public, the list has generated several reactions and some claims. One such claim is that Nyesom Wike, the immediate past governor of Rivers State, who has been assigned the the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) portfolio, is being described as the first southerner to be appointed as a “full FCT minister.” 

    The Twitter user tweeted that “Nyesom Wike Breaks Record.

    …Emerges as the first Southerner to become a Full FCT Minister.”

    Claim: Nyesom Wike is the first Southerner to become a full FCT minister

    Verification: 

    On February 3, 1976, the military government of Murtala Muhammed announced the creation of the FCT, Abuja in a nationwide broadcast. Unlike all 36 states, the FCT has a different status as the federal capital administration is headed by a minister and not a governor. 

    Since 1976, every military head of state and democratically elected president has been appointing a minister for the FCT and in some instances, a minister of state to serve alongside the “full” minister. 

    The CDD War Room found that the first minister of FCT was Mobolaji Adeogun in 1976 and he handed over to John Jatau in 1978. Jatau left office in 1982 and handed over to Emeka Okoye who held the position as minister of state, FCT. 

    We found that Adeogun hails from Lagos state, a southern state of Nigeria. 

    The FCT Ministerial position like other Ministerial positions also has a minister of state, hence the ‘full’ caption by the claimant.

    Verdict: FALSE

    Nyesom Wike is not the first Southerner to become a full FCT minister. The late Mobolaji Adeogun from Lagos state was the first minister for FCT in 1976. However, since then, no Southerner has been appointed as “full” minister of the Federal Capital Territory until August 2023.

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