By Pascal Ibe
It’s still two years before the 2027 general in Nigeria, and politicians have begun moves of defecting to other parties to suit their interests.
Last month, a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El Rufai, dumped the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and moved to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Many other federal lawmakers have also defected from the main opposition party to the ruling and vice versa. While others are also planning coalitions and mergers with other parties in Nigeria.
The image of Rabiu Kwankwaso, the former Kano governor and a powerful political figure in Nigeria’s northern region, wearing Tinubu’s “signature hat’ has been trending on the X platform.
In Nigeria, anyone wearing a hat with this logo – a broken shackle – is seen as Tinubu’s supporter.
The picture depicts Kwankwaso wearing Tinubu’s signature hat’ alongside the claim that he has already joined APC.
Rabiu Kwankwaso is currently a member of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) but has been linked to defect to the roiling party.
X user, @Osorgbu shared a photo of Kwankwaso wearing Tinubu’s cap and wrote, “Kwankansiya now with Tinubu’s unbroken chain cap. Welcome Home sir!. Life is simple 😆
Another X user, @enevene2∅∅3, shared and made the same claim.
@MuchTalksBlog1 posted this image with a caption that reads, “Rabiu Kwankwaso seen wearing Tinubu’s cap
“Na the clown wey Una wan merge with Senior Man, Mr Peter Obi be this???
God forbid bad thing 🤮
The post has already generated 81k views, more than 600 reposts, and a thousand likes, according to X analytics.
FactWatch Nigeria observed that this photo has also spread on Facebook and Instagram
Verification
First, FactWatch Nigeria traced this image of Kwankwaso wearing Tinubu’s signature hat’ by subjecting it to a Google Lens search, which brought out another image of the former Kano governor with another design of the cap, The red cap.
Further checks led this FactChecker to the original photo in November 2022. Unlike the image depicting Kwankwaso wearing Tinubu’s cap, this photo of the Nigerian politician with a red cap in 2022, was shared by the official Facebook page of NNPP during Kwankwaso’s visit to Enugu State.
The NNPP posted these photos on its Facebook page in 2022 with a caption that reads, “The NNPP Presidential Candidate, H.E Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, PhD, FNSE arrived the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu State.
Two other Facebook users also shared this same image in 2022 here and here.
On the matter of defecting to the APC, the Chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, dismissed claims that the 2023 presidential candidate of the party, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, was planning a return to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said the NNPP has been giving Nigerians an insight into what the party has to offer through responsive and responsible governance, adding that only political failures talk about the next election in the middle of their terms.
Verdict
The photo depicting Kwankwaso wearing Tinubu’s signature hat’ is MISLEADING as findings showed that the original image dated back to 2022 when the former Kano governor wore his known red cap during a to Enugu State. Therefore, this picture was altered.
