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Poll: Parties induce voters in Bayelsa with food, cash

Ijeoma OPARA
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Poll: Parties induce voters in Bayelsa with food, cash

IN several polling units in Bayelsa, party members were spotted providing voters with refreshments and naira notes during the governorship election held on Saturday, November 11.

In polling unit 02 Ward 6, Sampur Community, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area (LGA), voters were spotted with plates of food while waiting to cast votes.

The ICIR also observed that party agents followed voters to the voting booth, monitoring as they cast ballots.

Party agent monitoring voter at polling unit in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA, Bayelsa. Credit: The ICIR.

In the Sagbama Compound Square, polling unit 11, Ward 10, The ICIR observed party agents share bottles of soft drinks with voters waiting to vote.

Voters were heard discussing payments offered by party agents in their polling unit.

“They were giving N6,000. It is N8,000 now. I will wait till it is N10,000, then I will go and vote,” The ICIR overheard a voter saying.

At the Amadikurumor Compound square, polling Unit 014, a female voter handed some naira notes to four young men.

“Have you voted? Who did you vote for?” she asked as she handed them the money.

She would later be identified as a stakeholder of one of the major political parties.

“I gave all these students N1,000 apart from the N8,000 we gave them. So in all, we paid N9,000,” she said, discussing with other voters.

Bayelsa Poll: INEC begins sorting, counting of votes

Itoro ETUKUDO
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Bayelsa Poll: INEC begins sorting, counting of votes

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the sorting and counting of votes across polling units in Bayelsa state.

The ICIR reports that off-cycle governorship elections are held in three states- Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi.

Officers and ad-hoc staff of INEC started sorting and counting of votes at around 1:33 pm in Ward 10, polling unit 05, Yenagoa Local Government Area (LGA) Labour Party (LP) candidate Udengs Eradiri’s polling unit.

According to the Presiding Officer, only 183 of 622 registered voters were accredited. The ICIR had reported that Bayelsa state has three major contenders vying for the governorship seat.

The incumbent governor, Duoye Diri, vying for re-election under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Timipre Silva, former governor and Nigeria’s immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, contesting under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Also, Udengs Eradiri, LP candidate is another force in the Bayelsa governorship election. He has served as Commissioner in the state and was the president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide.

Bayelsa, Kogi, Imo 2023 guber poll: Pre-election day checks

Editorial
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Bayelsa, Kogi, Imo 2023 guber poll: Pre-election day checks

THE Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition (NFC) brings you live checks of election-related misinformation and disinformation spreading online and on television on the day before the November 11, 2023, off-cycle election in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa states. 

Read election day live -check HERE

Do you have an election-related claim you want us to fact-check?

Reach the NFC via HERE.

This page is constantly being updated with verified checks. 

Claim 6

@McGingerIbeneme, an account on X (formerly  Twitter), in now-deleted footage, posted a video marked with the logo and branding of TVC News indicating that the governorship candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo state, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has withdrawn from the race and asked his supporters to vote for the candidate of All Progressives Congress, Hope Uzodinma.

FINDING:  An analysis of the video reveals that the footage has been manipulated. The audio in the video doesn’t match the lip movements of the individuals speaking –a common feature in deepfake videos. TVC News has also denied broadcasting the video and clarified that it is fake. Checks show that Mr Anyanwu debunked the footage via his verified Facebook P rofile and clarified that he is “fully still in the race”.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCES: TVC News, Senator Samuel Anyanwu

DATE: 10/11/2023

Claim 5

Claim: A Facebook user, Muhammad B. Muhammad, claimed that the chairman of Lokoja LGA, Hon Muhammed Danasabe, died hours before the start of the Kogi governorship election. He said the politician was holding a meeting in the Kogi state government house yesterday when he complained of stomach ache, after which he was rushed to the hospital.

FINDING:  Talba Lakwaja, the All Progressive Congress (APC) Public Relations Officer in Lokoja, confirmed the incident to Premium Times. He revealed that he slumped at his residence after a stakeholder meeting with party members at the Kogi government house on Thursday. The deceased was rushed to Shifa Hospital, where he was pronounced dead early Friday.

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCE: Premium Times

Claim 4

Claim: A viral video shared by “Area Papa Comedy” on Facebook on  Nov. 9, 2023, claimed that there was war in Imo state a few hours before the governorship election.

FINDING: In a press conference broadcast on Arise News TV, Deputy Inspector General of Police Frank Mba said, “Imo is not a war zone, Imo is not on fire,” while asking the media and other stakeholders to fact-check fake news. Also, there was no media report about war in Imo state at 7:00PM on Friday.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCES: Deputy Inspector General of Police, Frank Mba

DATE: 10/11/2023

Claim 3

CLAIM: Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State said, “When I came in 2020, we had an internally generated revenue profile of less than N500 million.”

FINDING: Internally generated revenue for states published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that Imo state’s internally generated revenue in 2019 was N16.095 billion, an average of N1.34 billion monthly. Between October and December 2019, the state generated N2.99 billion, an average of N996.67 million. It generated N3.08 billion from January to March 2020, an average of N1.03 billion monthly.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCES: NBS

DATE: 10/11/2023

Claim 2

STATE: Bayelsa

CLAIM: A Twitter user, @PO_GrassRootM, claims the PDP Chairman in Bayelsa, Bara Daniel, suffered a head injury after brutalisation by APC thugs over election materials.

FINDING: News reports from Punch and Daily Trust confirmed a clash between the Peoples’ Democratic Party and All People’s Congress in Twon-Brass jetty of Brass Local Government Area (LGA) over where election materials should be kept.

This led to the head injury sustained by the PDP Chairman Bara Daniel, but the assailant was not linked to any party.

VERDICT: PARTLY CORRECT

SOURCES: Punch and Daily Trust newspapers

DATE: 10/11/2023

Claim 1

STATE: Abia

CLAIM: In a conversation with Arise TV, the immediate-past commissioner for information and strategy in Abia, Eze Chikamnayo, asserted that the Labour Party (LP) did not carry out primary elections for the 2023 Abia state gubernatorial election.

FINDING: According to ThisDay and The Guardian newspapers, Alex Otti secured the ticket of the Labour Party through a primary election held in Umuahia on June 8, 2022. Innocent Okeke acted as the Returning Officer. Mr Otti got 454 votes to become the candidate of the Labour Party for the 2023 Abia governorship election.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCES: ThisDay and The Guardian.

DATE: 10/11/2023.

Nigerian Fact-checkers' Coalition

This live-check was jointly researched and written by members of the Nigerian Fact-Checkers’ Coalition (NFC): Nurudeen Akewushola, Fatimah Quadri (FactCheckHub); Rosemary Ajayi (Digital Africa Research Lab); Daniel Adaji, Farida Salifu (NatureNews); Elizabeth Ogunbamowo, Lois Ugbede, Cole Praise, Temilade Onilede, Lateef Sanni, Sunday Awosoro, Philip Anjorin, Lade Aborisade, Maxine Danso (Dubawa); Catherine Adeniyi, Allwell Okpi, Fatimah Abubakar, Muktar Balogun, Semilore Adelola, Denzel Amobi, (Africa Check); Faruk Shuaibu (Daily Trust); Rejoice Ewodage, Hannah Ajakaiye (FactsMatterNG); Claire Mom (The Cable); Temiloluwa Erinle, Alefia Friday James, Muyiwa Adekojede (RoundCheck); Theophilus Adedokun; Shehu Olayinka, Blessing Otoibhi (ICIR).

It was edited and approved for publication by Kemi Busari, Simbiat Bakare (Dubawa), Motunrayo Joel, David Ajikobi (Africa Check), Ajibola Amzat (CCIJ), Opeyemi Kehinde (FactCheckHub) and Bamas Victoria (ICIR).

Bayelsa Poll: Labour Party Udengs loses polling unit to Diri

Ijeoma OPARA
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Bayelsa Poll: Labour Party Udengs loses polling unit to Diri

LABOUR Party candidate in the Bayelsa governorship election Udengs Eradiri has lost his polling unit to the incumbent Governor Douye Diri.

Diri, who is contesting under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), polled the majority of votes in unit 05, Ward 10, Yenagoa Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

Diri won 130 votes while Udengs won eight votes.

In the same polling unit, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Timipre Silva gathered 45 votes.

Diri also emerged winner in the Yindimie Compound Square, polling unit 013, Ward 10 in the Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.

He polled 137 votes, while Silva gathered 55.

In Amadikurumor Compound Square, polling unit 014, Ward 10, PDP gathered 195 votes and APC 89.

Eradiri gathered only one vote in unit 014 and no vote in 013.

Kogi poll: Dino Melaye raises alarm over results forgery

Mustapha USMAN
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Kogi poll: Dino Melaye raises alarm over results forgery

THE Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate in the Kogi governorship election, Dino Melaye, has raised the alarm over allegations of forged results sheets in the Ogori Mangogo area of the state.

In a brief voice statement released on Saturday, November 11, via its X handle, Melaye expressed deep concern over the allegations, noting that the residents of the Ogori Mangogo have insisted on not voting due to the incident.

Melaye described the action as a threat to the election’s credibility and further accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of refusing to work within the confine of its Act.

The PDP candidate also called on his agents and residents to resist any voting process if the officials of INEC refused to show them plain result sheets.

Melaye’s claim came a few minutes after YIAGA Africa called on INEC to investigate the allegations of result manipulation in the area.

The ICIR reported that the organisation expressed deep concern over the integrity of the electoral process and the potential implications of any malpractices on democracy in the state.

Yiaga Africa raised the alarm via its X handle, stating that it received a report of a pre-filled results sheet discovered in PU 004, Eni ward of Ogori/Magongo in Kogi state before the commencement of voting.

The INEC reacted to the post via its X handle.

It wrote, “Our attention has been drawn to a report that filled result sheets were discovered in some polling units in Kogi State. The Commission views this situation seriously. 

“Our senior officials deployed to the state are currently investigating the incident(s). The commission will communicate its decision earnestly.”

Melaye is one of the 18 candidates cleared by INEC to vie for the governorship seat in the election.

Other leading candidates are Muritala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ododo Usman Ahmed of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Leke Abejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The election in Kogi is one of the three off-cycle governorship polls held today.

Other two states having the election are Imo and Bayelsa.

Imo poll: INEC will announce whoever God approves as governor – Uzodinma

Ehime ALEX
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Imo poll: INEC will announce whoever God approves as governor – Uzodinma

THE Imo State governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the ongoing governorship election in the state, Hope Uzodinma, has said the Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) would declare whoever God approved as the election winner.

Uzodinma told journalists immediately after casting his ballot at his polling unit in Omuma in the Oru East Local Government Area on Saturday, November 11, that the election was peaceful.

He particularly commended INEC for the exercise.

When asked what he anticipated on the election’s outcome, Uzodinma responded calmly and smilingly, “Only God knows the outcome. I have voted, and people are still voting. At the end of the day, whatever God approves will be announced by INEC.”

Responding to a question on the conduct of the off-cycle election compared to the presidential and state Houses of Assembly elections held in February and March this year, he said the off-cycle election in Imo state has been free, fair and credible.

He said, “I just observed that the voters in the queue appear enthusiastic, and we could see the joy they are expressing. The conduct has been very orderly, and you can see the queue is very straight, and there is no interference. And I have not seen anything suggesting that there will be any likelihood of disorganization.

“It is an impressive outing, too. You can see the number of people who have come out to vote. I am not surprised because this is my home town. Of course, a prophet is rather known very strongly in his hometown.

He noted that the security agencies had highly deployed their personnel and mercenaries and that flashpoint places were manned and occupied by men of the security forces.

“People are responding positively and behaving themselves, he added. I have not heard that there is any knockout anywhere to talk of the bullet. I think Imo State is good to go, and I said that the election in Imo state is free, fair, and credible,” he said.

The ICIR had reported the incident of gunshots that occurred in the early morning of Saturday in Amaimo Central School, Amaimo ward, Ikeduru local government areas (LGA) of the state, as residents trooped out to cast votes in the governorship election.

Uzodinma is battling with 17 other candidates in the election.

Sam Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Anthony Nnaji of the Labour Party (LP) remain his major contenders for the election.

Uzodinma was sworn in as governor in January 2020 after the Supreme Court nullified the election of the then-sitting governor, Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP, and declared him the winner.

He is to conclude his first term in January 2024.

Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Star, Asake, Olamide, others bag nominations for 66th Grammy awards

Itoro ETUKUDO
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Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Star, Asake, Olamide, others bag nominations for 66th Grammy awards

NIGERIAN music stars, Burna Boy, Davido, Olamide,  Asake and Ayra Star have bagged nominations at the 66th annual Grammy awards slated for February 5, 2024, in Los Angeles.

The Recording Academy introduced three new categories to debut the 66th edition of the awards ceremony.

According to the Record Academy CEO, Harvey Mason jr, the newly added categories is aimed at making the Grammy awards process more fair, transparent and accurate.

The categories include Best Pop Dance Recording, Best African Music Performance, and Best Alternative Jazz Album.

Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu professionally known as Burna Boy had the highest nominations from Nigeria with five.

His single ‘City Boy’ is nominated for Best African Music Performance, ‘Alone’, is nominated for Best Global Music Performance, ‘I Told Them’ album got nominated for Best Global Album, he also earned a nomination for Best Melodic Rap Performance for his song ‘Sittin’ On Top Of The World’ featuring 21 Savage.

David Adeleke, known as Davido, earned three nominations for songs off his recent album ’Timeless’. His hit single, ‘Unavailable’ featuring Musa Keys, earned a nomination for the Beat African Performance category.

Also, he bagged another nomination for the Best Global Music Performance category for his song ‘Feel’ and his album ‘Timeless’ earned him a nomination for the category of Best Global Album.

Expressing excitement, Davido took to his official X (formerly Twitter) to post “3 nominations at the Grammys!! Delay is not Denial!!”

Similarly, Asake, Olamide and Ayra Starr also got nominated for the category of Best African Music. Ayra Starr’s single ‘Rush’, Asake’s ‘Amapiano’ featuring Olamide all got nominated for this category. This makes their first Grammy nomination.

Other Nigerians who earned their first Grammy nominations include, Fireboy CKay and Seun Kuti for their contributions to the different songs.

INEC should take blame for any electoral violence – Security expert

Ehime ALEX
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INEC should take blame for any electoral violence – Security expert

AS pockets of electoral violence greet the off-cycle governorship polls in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa states, a security expert,  Ademola Abbass has suggested that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should take the blame.

Abass, a professor of International Law and Global Security, stated this while discussing the security challenges undermining the elections on Channel Television on Saturday, November 11, as the polls progressed in the states.

He said whatever happened with Nigeria’s electoral system reflected the country itself, stressing that insecurity during elections must be fixed.

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“You need to hold the Police and military accountable. But for me, as far as this election is concerned, we need to hold INEC much more responsible than anybody else.

“INEC is not something we created yesterday. It metamorphosed from different bodies as the NADECO [National Democratic Coalition] day up to what we have today. They must have been learning lessons.”

Abbas stressed that the electoral umpire had to assess how and how it had been conducting elections critically, or it would continue to record chaos.

“Don’t be surprised that in four years, we will come back here and say the same thing – logistical problems, people are hijacking and taking ballot papers, materials are not arriving on time, and other excuses.

“It is high time somebody begins to take responsibility, step back, and look at what we are doing as a nation.

Gunshots in Ikeduru LGA, Imo

Gunshots reportedly have rented air in the early morning in Amaimo Central School, Amaimo ward, Ikeduru local government areas (LGA) of Imo state, as residents trooped out to cast votes in the governorship election.

The incident was said to have occurred around 9:40 a.m. on Saturday, November 11.

According to a report by TheCable, Police officers clashed with party agents at the polling unit.

Voting has since commenced in the state. The ICIR reports heavy security patrol in Owerri, the state capital.

The armed officers are primarily combined forces of the military, para-military, and the Police.

Earlier, The ICIR correspondent covering the election in the state observed patrol vehicles within Owerri municipality and around significant hotels within the popular World Bank road, the Concord Hotel, and the All Season Hotel avenue.

The Nigeria Police Force had deployed 220 operational vehicles and personnel for the off-cycle election security management.

Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sam Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Anthony Nnaji of the Labour Party (LP) are the major contenders for the election in the state

Imo state election holds alongside a similar exercise in Kogi and Bayelsa states.

Party members flees with money meant for vote buying in Kogi

Bankole ABE
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Party members flees with money meant for vote buying in Kogi

THERE was a minor incident at two polling units (PU) in Okene LGA, Kogi state on Saturday, November 11, as the state elected a new governor. 

A party member – a man – absconded with money meant for vote-buying at two polling units.

The PUs are PU 25, Ucheba ward, and PU 012, Orietesu ward, both in Okene, Kogi Central Senatorial zone.

People were seen chasing one another in the area upon hearing of the incident.

A resident in the area told our reporter that the man named Shaibu absconded with the money meant for vote buying.

It was not immediately clear which political party the man represented.

Police officers stationed at the polling unit were seen not taking any action.

Similarly, soldiers stationed a few metres away, took no action on the matter.

Guber Poll: Accreditation, voting underway in Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa

Mustapha USMAN
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Guber Poll: Accreditation, voting underway in Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa

OFF-CYCLE governorship elections are underway in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states today, and voters turnout has been impressive.

In some polling units monitored by The ICIR, election officials and materials arrived early, and accreditation of voters commenced as early as 8:20 a.m. Voting also commenced in some other locations at 8:30 am. 

The ICIR reports that the election process has been relatively peaceful so far in the three states.

Some presiding officers offered a brief sensitization to party agents on how to conduct themselves before the commencement of voting, and priority voting was given to the elderly, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women in most polling units observed.

In the Inorere polling unit, Farm Centre ward, Adavi local government area in Kogi state, The ICIR observed that women were more in the queue than men.

Also, in Nworieubi polling unit 034 in Mbaitoli LGA, INEC officials confirmed that the election started at 8:30 am. The ICIR also observed voters searching for their names.

Meanwhile, some voters lamented the nonavailability of INEC electoral officers at the largest voting centre in Adavi local government area.

In Owerri, electoral materials were deployed early from the local government councils to polling units in the LGA monitored in Imo State. 

At  Owerri Municipal local government area, sensitive materials left the council at about 7.24 am to various polling units.

However,  some voters were seen checking their names on the list pasted on the wall at the council.

Also, in Bayelsa, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Douye Diri has cast his vote in his polling unit.

Before the elections, the Nigerian Police had instructed its officers to ensure the safety of the electorate, INEC officers, and electoral materials, given alleged plans by some groups to disrupt the polls in the three states where the off-cycle governorship elections are held today.

The ICIR reported the top candidates competing for the governorship seats in the three states.

The ICIR, using data in this report, highlighted parties’ chances in the states.

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