By Pascal Ibe
“Meanwhile, Here’s The Original Video of The Edo State Governor Before It Was Doctored“, @renomokiri reacting to the viral video of the new Edo governor, Monday Okpebholo struggling to call figures on Tuesday, posted another video the Edo governor on his X account.
Another APC supporter, @Abdullahayofel shared this same 3-minute video and wrote, “The budget of Edo state governor Monday Okpebholo
“WATCH the Original video, the other one was doctored ”
These X users strongly claimed that the viral video where the governor struggled to call out the budget figures during the presentation wa doctored.
Was the clip doctored?
Foundations For Investigative Journalism (FIJ) a credible news organization in Nigeria, reported on Tuesday that there was mild drama at the Edo State House of Assembly as Monday Okpebholo, the state governor, was unable to spell out the state’s budget figures for 2025.
FIJ stated that Okpebholo struggled with the actual budget total, over N600 billion, and made a mess of the figures in words.
“The Edo State 2025 (sic) appropriation bill of six billion (sic)… six hundred and fif…(sic) six hundred and five billion, seventy six thou… seventy-six million, seventy-six… Let me take it again,” Okpebholo said during the presentation.
This story was also reported by other reputable news organizations in Nigeria like Punch, TheCable.
When this video was uploaded to DEEPWARE, a tool for detecting doctored videos, results showed the the viral video wasn’t altered in any way.
Also, this Fact Checker understands the other video being circulated Mr Omokri and others, was after first drama took place before the governor continued with his presentation.
Forced To Delete
Speaking to a journalist in Edo State on Wednesday evening, Mr Femi Johnson confirmed that the viral video was real.
“My colleagues that were at the Assembly confirmed the video was real. All journalists that covered were forced to delete their recordings before they were allowed to exit the complex”, Mr Femi narrated.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman in Edo State, Jarrett Tenebe, defended Governor Monday Okpebholo’s gaffe during a budget estimate presentation at the state House of Assembly, saying “no one is above mistake”.
“Governor Okpebholo was not familiar with figures because he has never embezzled public funds,” he said.
Verdict
The claim that the viral video of Edo governor, Monday Okpebholo struggling to call out budget figures was doctored us FALSE after findings.
