Fact-Check: No Evidence Supports Claim That Former Ekiti Governor Imported 5,000 Thugs Ahead of Governorship Election
Claim: Isaac Fayose claims a former governor has imported 5,000 thugs into Ekiti State ahead of its gubernatorial election. Verdict: Unproven. The claim is, at best, an allegation and a rumour, hence...
Claim: Isaac Fayose claims a former governor has imported 5,000 thugs into Ekiti State ahead of its gubernatorial election.
Verdict: Unproven. The claim is, at best, an allegation and a rumour, hence should not be treated as fact.
Full Story
A social commentator, Isaac Fayose, shared a video claiming that an unnamed inside source informed him that a former governor of Ekiti State had allegedly imported 5,000 thugs from Ibadan into Ekiti State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
In a 3-minute-long video shared across all social media platforms, he said, “Information reaching me is that one of our former governors has brought over 5000 people from Oyo State to come and vote in Ekiti. Voters’ cards that they refused to give you; they have cloned them for the Ekiti election this Saturday. The former governor just entered Ekiti with the thugs and put them in hotels, and they want the thugs to vote. Apart from voting, they want them to destroy and scatter anywhere PDP is leading.”
The claim was presented as insider information and circulated online amid heightened political activities surrounding the election.
At the time of this report, there is no publicly available evidence to support the claim that a former governor imported 5,000 thugs into Ekiti State ahead of the election. The allegation remains unverified and should not be treated as fact.
A review of the video shows that the claim relies entirely on an unnamed source and provides no supporting documents, identifiable witnesses, security reports, official statements, or independently verifiable evidence.
No details were provided regarding:
- The identity of the alleged former governor;
- When or how the alleged movement occurred;
- The identities of the supposed 5,000 individuals;
- Locations where they were reportedly accommodated;
- Any evidence from security agencies or election observers.
Claims based solely on anonymous sources are not automatically false. However, they require independent corroboration before they can be presented as factual, especially in contexts as sensitive as elections.
As of the time of this publication, there has been no publicly available confirmation from relevant authorities, election observers, or security institutions to substantiate the allegation.
Without verifiable evidence, the claim remains an allegation and should be treated with caution.
Why This Matters
Election periods often bring heightened emotions, political tension, and a greater risk of misinformation and rumours. Claims about planned violence or the importation of thugs can still cause harm, even when they later prove inaccurate or unsupported.
First, such claims can create fear among voters and discourage participation. Citizens who believe violence is imminent may decide not to vote, affecting turnout and public confidence in the electoral process.
Second, rumours of organised violence can increase anxiety and trigger reactions from political supporters, potentially escalating tensions unnecessarily.
Third, unverified allegations can undermine trust in democratic institutions, election management bodies, and security agencies by creating an impression that the process has already been compromised.
Finally, the rapid circulation of unverified information during elections makes it harder for citizens to distinguish between credible warnings and political narratives designed to influence public perception.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it is not possible for a voter whose Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) is registered in another state to legally vote in a different state without first transferring their voter registration. Nigeria’s electoral system is tied to designated polling units, and voters are only permitted to vote at the polling unit where they are registered and where their names appear on the register of voters. INEC’s voter transfer guidelines state that relocation alone does not automatically confer voting rights in a new state; affected voters must formally apply for a transfer and obtain approval before the election.
Once approved, the voter’s details are moved to the new constituency and removed from the previous one. This means claims suggesting mass movement of individuals from other states for voting purposes should be approached with caution, because possession of PVCs registered elsewhere does not confer the ability to cast votes in another state’s governorship election.
Concerns about election security should be taken seriously, but they should also be approached responsibly. The Nigerian police have advised that residents should call 08062335577 to report suspicious incidents and flashpoints of violence.
Conclusion
There is no publicly available evidence supporting the claim that a former governor imported 5,000 thugs into Ekiti State ahead of the governorship election.
This does not mean the allegation is false; it means the claim has not been verified to the standard required to treat it as fact. Until credible evidence emerges, it remains unproven and should not be shared as confirmed information.
No Comment! Be the first one.