FACT CHECK: Did PDP ask Okowa to resign as Atiku’s running mate? 

A video is currently circulating on social media showing a large number of people protesting against the vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State. The 56-second video which was shot at night and circulating mostly on WhatsApp had the caption “Breaking News:-HAPPENING Now. PDP in disarray…. “Atiku […]

A video is currently circulating on social media showing a large number of people protesting against the vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.

The 56-second video which was shot at night and circulating mostly on WhatsApp had the caption “Breaking News:-HAPPENING Now. PDP in disarray….

“Atiku Abubakar escapes lynching in Abuja at PDP meeting as members of the party asks Okowa to step down as Atiku’s running mate.”

The protesters in the video were also heard chanting, “No representation by proxy. This is an insult. Okowa must go; No more governance by proxy and we can’t continue like this.”

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Verification

Daily Trust subjected the clip to verification, using Invid video verification tool. It was found that the video first emerged on the Internet on November 6, 2022.

Subsequent checks showed that the video was shot at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja where the first series of town hall meetings with presidential candidates took place.

The town hall series was jointly organized by the Centre for Democracy and Development and the Arise TV.

Further checks by Daily Trust revealed the cause of the protest was triggered by the introduction of Okowa who represented the PDP presidential candidate, Mr. Atiku Abubakar.

However the announcement didn’t go well with the audience which created a row and the debate was brought to a halt for sometime.

However, the town hall meeting which was anchored by Dr. Reuben Abati of Arise TV continued and Okowa represented Atiku at the meeting.

The series also had the ccandidates of the Labour Party (LP) Mr. Peter Obi, New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Mr. Kola Abiola, in attendance.

 

Verdict:

Consequently, Daily Trust can confirm that Atiku was not present at the venue of the town hall meeting and the video was not from any meeting of the PDP as suggested. Hence, it is false and misleading.

Conclusion

Verification by Daily Trust shows that the video in question did not emerge from any PDP meeting. Also, the calls for Okowa’s resignation is false and misleading as it was a group of audience asking Okowa not to stand in for the party’s presidential candidate who was absent at the town hall meeting.

 

This Fact Check is produced in partnership with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD)