BACKGROUND

The Imo state Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in the 2023 governorship election, Obinna Ekwebelem recently claimed that he is the youngest candidate in the race of who becomes the next governor of the state.

Ekwebelem said while speaking with Arise TV in an interview on October 5.

The 9:46 minutes long video has since its upload gathered 941 views on YouTube.

Responding to the question of how he plans to defeat his contenders who are “heavyweights”, the governorship hopeful candidate said he’s 43 years old and a candidate who understands the predicament of the youths, and Imo people at large, adding that he has the strength to take on the heavyweights.

Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states are to participate in the off-cycle governorship elections which has been scheduled to take place on the 11th of November 2023, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced.

 
CLAIM: Obinna Ekwebelem further said he’s the youngest candidate in the race.

VERIFICATION

iVerify Nigeria checked this claim and found it to be false.

Findings revealed that the youngest candidate in the Imo state governorship race is the candidate of Boot Party (BP), Iwuanyanwu Isaac.

According to the amended final list of candidates uploaded by INEC on its website, Iwuanyanwu Isaac of Boot Party is 35 years old, and as such the youngest candidate in the contest.

He is followed by the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Andy Chibuike, who is 40 years old.

A screenshot of the list uploaded by INEC displaying candidates’ ages

CONCLUSION

Claim that Obinna Ekwebelem is the youngest candidate in the Imo governorship race is FALSE.