By Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition  

Claim 1

CLAIM: An X user @mr_niceguy234 claimed Anambra state governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has declared a public holiday on Friday, Nov 7, 2025, because teachers are to serve as delegates during the election. 

FINDINGS: News reports confirm that the Anambra state government had declared Friday, November 7, 2025, a public holiday for all workers in the state, not only teachers. In a statement, the state government said the directive was to encourage workers to actively participate in the elections. 

NFC sources, Mboho Eno of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, and Alfred Ajayi, a senior journalist in Awka, said the claim could not be substantiated.

“From interactions, there is no official evidence to back up the claim as of now,” Mboho told NFC.

Also, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Queen Agwu, said she could not confirm the claim.

Further checks showed that the claimant has deleted the tweet.

SOURCES: TheCable Newspaper, Election observers, INEC REC

Claim 2

CLAIM: A Facebook post urging votes for the Labour Party claims, “All you need is your voter’s card, index finger, and ballot paper,” with a graphic saying, “Use the index finger to vote.”)

FINDINGS: The 2023 election voting procedure document does not specify any finger for voting. Also, ahead of the 2019 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) addressed claims about which finger should be used for voting. In a tweet on February 12, 2019, INEC clarified: “A voter can use any finger to vote but must ensure the mark is clear and placed inside the box of the chosen political party without straying into another box.”

VERDICT: MISLEADING

SOURCE: INEC

DATE: 7/11/2025

FACTCHECK AUTHOR: Allwell Okpi

EDITORS: Motunrayo Joel & Opeyemi Kehinde

CLAIM 3 

CLAIM: A Facebook user claimed that security operatives in Anambra State have uncovered how Ukachukwu Nicholas, APC candidate in Saturday’s Anambra governorship election, planned to use fake police and thugs to disrupt polls in Nnewi South & North, Ihiala, and Onitsha South local government areas. 

FINDINGS: The Anambra State Police Command dismissed the allegation. Its spokesperson, Ikenga Anthony, refuted claims that APC candidate, Ukachukwu Nicholas, planned to use thugs or fake security agents to disrupt the election, stating, “There is no such thing happening here.” Further checks showed that several media outlets reported on Friday that robust security arrangements had been made to ensure a peaceful election in Anambra. For example, Channels Television noted the deployment of heavy security to escort election materials across LGAs, while The Punch reported tight security in Awka as residents prepared to vote on Saturday.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCES: Police, Channels TV and Punch newspaper 

CLAIM A: An X user claims that Anambra has 2.82 million voters.

FINDINGS: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced on September 5, 2025, that 2,802,790 voters were approved for the 2025 governorship election in Anambra state. This figure suggests that approximately 2.8 million voters, not 2.82 million, registered to vote. 

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCE: INEC.

CLAIM 4

CLAIM A: An X user claims that Anambra’s voter turnout has hardly exceeded 22% in any election.

FINDINGS: An analysis by Premium Times of past Anambra voter turnout reveals that in the 1999 election, 1.02 million of the 2.2 million registered voters participated, representing a turnout of 46.4%. Similarly, the state recorded 47.22% turnout in the 2003 election. These findings also align with a recent report published by the Guardian newspaper. 

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCES: Premium Times, Guardian newspaper.

CLAIM 5

CLAIM: An X user asserts that Charles Soludo removed Arabic inscriptions on banknotes in Nigeria when he was the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). 

FINDINGS: A review of multiple media reports shows that the Nigerian government removed the Arabic [Ajami-derived] phrases on the lower domination of the bank notes in February 2007, citing a move to deepen national unity. Additionally, a check on the official website of the nation’s apex bank reveals that Soludo was the governor of the CBN in Nigeria at the time the shift was made. 

VERDICT: CORRECT

SOURCES: TheCable, New Yorker and CBN.