FACT CHECK: Enugu PDP Governorship Candidate Not Assasinated

A video of about 2 minutes has been trending online with the posters claiming that the winner of the just concluded governorship primary in Enugu, Mr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, has been assassinated. In the video, a man dressed in what looked like a police T-shirt and jean trousers lay lifeless on the road while another, […]

A video of about 2 minutes has been trending online with the posters claiming that the winner of the just concluded governorship primary in Enugu, Mr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, has been assassinated.

In the video, a man dressed in what looked like a police T-shirt and jean trousers lay lifeless on the road while another, dressed in traditional attire lay on the ground in a pool of blood, close to a Toyota Land Cruiser SUV which was riddled with bullets.

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Old video being circulated

An analysis of the video using InVid, a video verification tool, showed that the video first appeared on the July 7, 2021.

Further search on Google revealed that the video was shot at the scene where the Director General of the Scientific Equipment Development Institute (SEDI), Enugu, Professor Samuel Ndubuisi was assassinated.

As reported by mainstream media, Ndubuisi along with his police orderly were shot dead along the Centenary City Junction axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway on July 7, 2021.

Mbah debunks video

Reacting to the viral video, Mbah’s media office in a statement signed by Dan Nwome, described the report as false labelling, wicked and evil.

The statement titled, ‘Fake news on the assassination of Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’ reads, “We have been inundated with calls over fake news in circulation on some social media platforms on the purported assassination of the Enugu State PDP governorship flagbearer, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah. The story is false, wicked and evil.

“Our investigations indicate that the story was doctored from the video of the unfortunate gruesome assassination of one Dr. Ndubuisi (real name: Professor Samuel Ndubuisi), the Director-General of the Science and Equipment Development Institute (SEDI), along the Enugu Port Harcourt expressway, two years ago.

“It is the mere coincidence of “Ndubuisi” in the two names that has been twisted by some devious and malevolent characters to spread unfounded panic and alarm amongst our genuinely concerned teeming supporters and well-wishers in Enugu State and beyond.

“We condemn this wicked, ill-conceived misinformation and urge the masterminds to play politics of moderation and sportsmanship, have the fear of God and develop respect for the sanctity of human life.”

Conclusion 

Relying on available evidence, Daily Trust can confirm that the video in circulation is an old one and is in no way connected with the Enugu governorship candidate as claimed.

This fact check was done in partnership with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD).