VERDICT: FALSE
CLAIM: Dr Tom Ohikere, former Commissioner for Information in Kogistate, had alleged in a Fakebook post that the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Engr Musa Wada claimed in an interview on Kakaaki Morning show on Africa Independent Television that ‘’Kogi East can singlehandedly decides who govern the state’’. Dr.Ohikere further claimed that Kogi East constitutes only about 40 percent of the state populations, while Kogi West and Kogi Central constitute about 60 percent.
FACT: Fact checkers at the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) conducted a thorough review and analysis of the recorded AIT show, which was aired on October 2, 2019. The two hours 24 minutes video was a comprehensive Kakaaki show presented by Salamatu Ibrahim and Peace Chikodinaka Eze. However, Engr Musa Wada was introduced at about 56minutes of the show.
The interview which last over an hour generally focused on the candidate’s vision for the state. At 1:16:00 hours, Engr Wada was asked on the perception of the people of Kogi East Senatorial District, about the Governorship seat. In response among others, Engr Wada among said, “Democracy is about number …. It is not right for the people of Kogi East to lay claim to the seat, since it is about numbers, Kogi East is about 49% of the voting population.”
CDD fact checkers further reviewed Dr. Ohikere Facebook account and found his post had garnered 78 comments, 34 shares and 51 likes. Dr. Ohikere has a direct audience of 10,900 Facebook users, which is made up of 5,000 friends and 5,900 followers.
Dr Ohikere seems to have an history of promoting unconfirmed information, for example, in an interview with Daily Trust on October 3, 2019, he had accused the PDP candidate of igniting violence in the state, stating that “this weekend has been tumultuous for the people of Kogi State as a result of the violence orchestrated and perpetrated by PDP thugs and miscreants.” On April 4, 2019, he posted on his Facebook profile that ‘’Ebira Agenda is still virile and potent. The end justifies!’’
On the voting population, Fact Checkers checked onINEC website, but could not find a breakdown of registered voters by Local Government Areas in Kogi state, however, found a 2011 record online, the details show that Kogi East has 51.4 percent, Kogi Central 24.32 percent, while Kogi West is 24.25 percent.
CONCLUSION
The claim by Dr. Ohikere, a known supporter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), that the PDP candidate, Engr. Musa Wada said Kogi East Senatorial District can singlehandedly decide who governs Kogi State is FALSE. The claim by Dr. Ohikere has capacity to disinform and misinform the people of Kogi state and ignite ethnic rivalry before, during and after the election scheduled for November 16, 2019.
On the voting population, the record of 2011 cannot be sufficiently used to determine the voting population in 2019. We would monitor this progress and report appropriate, whether Kogi East constitute 40 or 49 percent as claimed by Dr.Ohikere and Engr Wada.
CDD admonish political gladiator and supporters to desist from spreading fake news and disinformation, because it threatens our electoral integrity and puts on democracy in danger.
