As Anambra prepares for the November 8 governorship election, political debates have extended beyond campaign promises into heated arguments over candidates’ educational qualifications. The exchanges, while common in Nigeria’s political space, highlight a recurring issue, the gap between constitutional requirements for office and public expectations of leadership. Every election season in Nigeria, whether off-cycle elections or general elections, questions arise about who is eligible to contest for the office of governor. From age requirements to academic qualifications, these questions shape pre-election debates and, in some cases, even decide election petitions in court. The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of...
FACT CHECK: Did BVAS glitch disrupt the voting exercise in Onitsha?
On November 8, 2025, the CDD War Room received a claim via the Check by Meedan tool that the Biometric Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) had suffered a glitch in Onitsha, thereby disrupting the voting exercise. This claim comes amidst the ongoing gubernatorial election in Anambra State. Claim: BVAS glitch disrupted voting exercise in Onitsha Verification The CDD War Room can confirm that the BVAS in Onitsha South, Odakpu Ward 7, PU 006, suffered a glitch. This incident was confirmed by our observers and Soldiers of Mouth deployed to the polling units. However, the glitch was fixed in no time, and...
FACT CHECK: Does this video show unknown gunmen attacking security personnel during the 2025 Anambra governorship election?
A video has been shared widely by multiple user accounts on TikTok with the claim that it shows the moment unknown gunmen were attacking security personnel during the 2025 Anambra governorship election. The video, posted by an account with the username @official_slow_b on Saturday, November 8, 2025, has the inscriptions “Anambra state election 2025 there was attack by unknown gunman’s everywhere is on fire please stay indoor” and “Today being Saturday November 8th 2025 election still going on.” The video, which has garnered over six thousand views, was captioned “unknown gunmen attacked Anambra state securitys” CLAIM: Video shows unknown gunmen...
FACT CHECK: Old image shared hours after opening of polls with the hashtag AnambraDecides’25
An image showing people on motorcycles in what appears to be a campaign or community event was shared on X (formerly Twitter) with the hashtag #AnambraDecides2025, suggesting it depicts current election activities in Anambra State, Nigeria. Claim: Old image shared hours after opening of polls with the hashtag AnambraDecides’25 Verification: The photograph shows several people gathered around motorcycles, with some individuals wearing high-visibility vests and casual clothing. The scene appears to be in a rural or semi-rural area with vegetation in the background. However, verification by the CDD Election War Room shows this image is not from the 2025 Anambra...
FACT CHECK: Did an Anambra LGA Chairman Disrupt Elections with Police?
CDD’s Soldiers of Mouth (SOM) sent in a viral social media post alleging that a local government chairman in Anambra State was disrupting the ongoing governorship election. The post claimed that the chairman used armed Police officers to prevent the election from proceeding smoothly. Verification: CDD War Room reviewed the image and video submitted through the Check by Meedan platform. The footage showed only a police van and a Hilux vehicle parked at a location, with no evidence of violence or electoral disruption. The post also failed to specify the name of the alleged LGA chairman, the local government area...
FACT CHECK: Viral Video Claiming ‘Massive Influx of Cash’ in Anambra Election
A viral video shared on Facebook shows stacks of naira notes arranged in bundles, with the caption claiming that a “massive influx of cash” has flooded Anambra State ahead of the election. The post further alleges that political parties are distributing funds and that “election-sensitive materials” have arrived in the state. The video has been widely shared, fuelling suspicions of large-scale vote buying. Claim: Viral Video Claiming ‘Massive Influx of Cash’ in Anambra Election Verification: Verification by the CDD Election War Room shows that while the video itself is authentic, the claim linking it to the Anambra election is false....
FACT CHECK: Old Photo Falsely Linked to Violence in the Anambra Election
An image circulating on X (formerly Twitter) claims to show incidents of violence during the ongoing Anambra election. The photo shows a man with a bloodied head and a caption #AnambraDecides2025. The post alleged that the image is evidence of chaos and electoral malpractice in the state. Claim: Old photo falsely linked to violence in the Anambra election Verification: Verification by the CDD War Room shows that while the image itself is authentic, the claim linking it to the Anambra election is false. A reverse image and keyword search revealed that the same image was first posted on a Facebook...
FACT CHECK: Anambra election has hardly exceeded 22% voter turnout
On November 3, 2025, an X user (formerly Twitter), while responding to another user, claimed that Anambra has 2.82 million voters but has hardly exceeded 22% turnout in any election. The tweet was made in respect to the increasing voter apathy compared to the number of registered voters recorded in the past elections in the state. Claim: Anambra election has hardly exceeded 22% voter turnout Verification: The CDD War Room found that the 1999, 2003, 2013 & 2023 governorship elections in Anambra State exceeded 22% turnout. According to credible media sources, in 1999, there were 2.2 million registered voters, while...
FACT CHECK: Did Soludo ‘Emptied Anambra Purse’ to Buy Votes for APGA?
On November 7th 2025, a Facebook page, APGA Interactive Forum (AIF Media), made a claim that Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, has “emptied the state’s purse” and released ₦100 million to Nnewi North Local Government Area to buy votes ahead of the upcoming election. The post further alleges that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) plans to offer ₦50,000 for each vote, asserting that no amount of vote buying will save the Governor from being voted out. Claim: Did Soludo empty Anambra’s purse to buy votes for APGA? Verification: The CDD War Room investigated the viral claim by analysing reports...
FACT CHECK: Was there an approval to vote without a voter’s card in the 2025 Anambra guber poll?
On November 7, 2025, the CDD War Room received a claim via the Check by Meedan tool that there is an approval to vote without a voter’s card. This claim is going viral a day before the election and also on the election day. Claim: Is there an approval to vote without a voter’s card? Verification: The CDD War Room found that there is no approval to vote without a voter’s card. We can confirm that during the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s meeting with stakeholders, the Commission’s supervising commissioner for Anambra, Dr Ken Ukeagu, while answering a question asked...