Fact-Check Roundup: Election and Public-Affairs Claims from the Past Four Weeks
The spread of misinformation and disinformation on social media continues to shape public conversations around politics, governance, security, and other national issues in Nigeria. During the review...
The spread of misinformation and disinformation on social media continues to shape public conversations around politics, governance, security, and other national issues in Nigeria. During the review period, several viral claims circulated across Facebook, X, TikTok, and other platforms, attracting significant public attention despite lacking credible evidence.
NDRFactCheck investigated these claims using official records, reverse image searches, credible news sources, and direct verification with relevant institutions.
Below is a roundup of some of the major fact-checks published during the period, highlighting the claims, the verification process, and the verdicts.
1. Ifeanyi Okowa was re-arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
An X user, the Mayor of Calabar, claimed that former Delta State governor and APC senatorial candidate Ifeanyi Okowa was rearrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Our checks showed the claim was misleading. Although Okowa was arrested and questioned by the EFCC in November 2024 over alleged financial misconduct, there was no evidence that he was arrested again in June 2026, as implied by the viral post. Read more
2. Rotimi Amaechi denied agreeing to be Atiku Abubakar’s running mate.
Social media users also claimed that Rotimi Amaechi denied agreeing to be Atiku Abubakar’s running mate. This claim was false. Available evidence indicated that Amaechi and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) did not announce a rejection of a vice-presidential nomination. Read the full story here.
3. NYSC directs all Local Government Inspectors (LGIs) to present a POS machine alongside the Certificate of National Service to corps members
A document circulated on social media, purportedly from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), directs all Local Government Inspectors (LGIs) to present a Point of Sale (POS) machine alongside the Certificate of National Service to corps members passing out in July 2026. NDRFactChecks found the claim to be false. The document was fabricated and contained incorrect details about the July 2026 Passing-Out Parade. Read more here
4. President Goodluck Jonathan was offered ₦500 billion to run against Peter Obi
A viral post shared by a user claimed that former President Goodluck Jonathan was offered ₦500 billion to run against Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election but rejected the offer. The claim is false. NDRFactCheck found no verifiable evidence for the allegation and noted that the source had previously published similar unsupported claims attributed to public figures. Read more here.
5. U.S. President Donald Trump alleged that Nigeria’s last general election was deeply questionable
Another widely shared post attributed a statement to U.S. President Donald Trump, alleging that Nigeria’s last general election was deeply questionable and demanding “an honest election”. The statement was fabricated. Read more here.
6. Anambra State Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo disowned his son, Ozonna Soludo
A social media user claimed that Anambra State Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo disowned his son, Ozonna Soludo, after a viral video showed him dancing to a politically critical song. The claim is unproven. No evidence supports the allegation; instead, publicly available videos show the governor dancing to one of Ozonna’s songs, suggesting support for his music career. Read more here.
7. A Collapsed electricity transformer was executed by the Governor Ademola Adeleke-led administration in Osun State
A Facebook user, Ogbeni Yakubu Atanda, posted a video of a collapsed electricity transformer and claimed it resulted from a substandard project executed by the Governor Ademola Adeleke-led administration in Osun State. NDRFactCheck traced the footage to a YouTube video showing that the transformer collapsed in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, not Osun State. The claim is therefore misleading. Read more here.
8. Video showing the Nigerian Army killing bandits during the rescue operation involving kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oyo State.
On 11 July 2026, the X user @Hon_Jesugbemi posted a video claiming that the Nigerian Army killed bandits during the rescue operation involving kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire Local Government, Ogbomoso, Oyo State. Reverse-image searches and other verification steps showed that the footage was not connected to a Nigerian military operation. It actually depicted military operations in Mali, specifically a July 2026 clash involving Malian forces near Gao, Sévaré, and Anéfis. The claim is false. Read more here.
9. All the people who voted for Tinubu are begging Peter Obi to vote for him in 2027.
Another social media post claimed that “all the people who voted for Tinubu are now running like headless chickens on their knees begging Peter Obi to vote for him in 2027.” NDRFactCheck found the claim to be false. The accompanying image showed characteristics consistent with AI-generated content and did not provide evidence for the assertion. Read more here.
10. 70% of the staff of the University of Ilesa are from Ede, Osun State.
Facebook users further alleged that 70% of the staff of the University of Ilesa are from Ede, Osun State, and that 250 of the 285 employees recruited by the university came from Ede. NDRFactCheck found no publicly available evidence supporting either figure. The university’s Senior Assistant Registrar, Mr Babatunde Fanowopo, stated that recruitment is based on approved staffing needs, qualifications, competence, and due process. The claim is therefore unsubstantiated. Read more here.
11. Video showed a severely flooded road with vehicles nearly submerged and people struggling through rising water in Lagos
A widely shared video showed a severely flooded road with vehicles nearly submerged and people struggling through rising water. The caption claimed it showed current flooding in Lagos State following recent heavy rainfall. Verification revealed that Professor Wole Soyinka told President Bola Tinubu, “You are not fit for re-election.”
12. Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka told President Bola Tinubu, “You are not fit for re-election.”
Finally, a social media user claimed that Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka told President Bola Tinubu, “You are not fit for re-election.” NDRFactCheck found no evidence that Soyinka made the statement. The claim originated from the X account of the Mayor of Calabar (@Uno_009), which has repeatedly shared viral claims that were previously investigated and debunked by NDRFactCheck, raising concerns about it. Read more here.
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