The 'shop for free' event at Ring Road Palms Mall, Ibadan, organized by Help Initiative and SAF foundation, brought joy to 500 children from various orphanages. The Charity and Empowerment day Celebration aimed to address children's needs and empower Ibadan women. Mrs. Febisola Okonkwo, Director of Help Initiative, thanked sponsors for their contributions. The event aligned with UN Developmental Goals, focusing on poverty alleviation and health. Dr. Anthonia Aniagu educated attendees on hygiene and cancer awareness. Beneficiaries received items and expressed gratitude, with one widow sharing her success story after receiving training and tools from Help Initiative. Representatives from Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs and various orphanages attended the event.

The International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) has condemned the Philippine government's decision to shut down Rappler, a news platform co-founded by Nobel laureate Maria Ressa. The IFCN, supported by nearly 70 fact-checking organizations from 55 countries, views this action as an attempt to silence press coverage and retaliate against Rappler's history of exposing corruption. The decision by the Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission to revoke Rappler's certificates of incorporation is seen as alarming and a threat to press freedom globally. The IFCN emphasizes the importance of supporting press freedom and allowing Rappler to continue its operations without fear of reprisal.

YouTube is intensifying its efforts to combat abortion misinformation by removing videos that provide unsafe abortion instructions or promote false claims about abortion safety. The platform, led by CEO Susan Wojcicki, is committed to curbing misinformation and promoting free speech. YouTube will also collaborate with fact-checkers and launch information panels to provide authoritative health information.

A Facebook post claimed that a white goat was intended for sacrifice at the proclamation of Prince Charles as the King of England, suggesting a double standard compared to African traditions. FactCheckHub refuted this claim, explaining that the goat, named Lance Corporal Shenkin IV, is a mascot of the Third Battalion of The Royal Welsh, not for sacrifice. The Royal Welsh has a long-standing tradition of adopting goats as mascots since 1775, with each goat having a unique history and receiving a salary, rank, and regiment number. The article clarifies that when a mascot dies, the regiment requests permission from the monarch to recruit a new one, a practice dating back to Queen Victoria.

A Facebook post claiming a white goat was intended for sacrifice at Prince Charles's crowning as King of England is false. The goat, named Lance Corporal Shenkin IV, is a mascot of the Third Battalion of The Royal Welsh, not for sacrifice. Mascots like Shenkin IV receive a salary, rank, and regiment number, and have been a tradition since 1775. The claim was debunked by The FactCheckHub, which conducted a reverse image search and cited reports from KhaleejTimes, ITV, and The Australian.

Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced that INEC will collaborate with the European Union to ensure free and fair elections in Nigeria. The partnership is part of the EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) program. Yakubu emphasized INEC's commitment to democratic norms, the importance of international and local election observers, and the value of their recommendations in improving electoral processes. He also acknowledged the role of international development partners in enhancing training, capacity building, and peaceful election engagement, particularly for women, youth, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that it will not publish the name and particulars of any candidate for the Yobe North Senatorial District, standing by the report of its monitoring team. INEC National Commissioner Festus Okoye emphasized the commission's position despite ongoing legal proceedings and has instructed external counsel to ensure all filings reflect the commission's stance. INEC plans to review its quality assurance protocols to prevent future discrepancies.

As the Continuous Voters’ Registration (CVR) exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) concluded in July 2022, fake websites promoting voter card registration emerged online, spreading misinformation. These phishing sites, shared widely on social media, falsely claimed government approval for online voter registration. The FactCheckHub debunked these claims, highlighting the discrepancies and warning the public against such scams. INEC also disowned the fake websites, reiterating that the official CVR process was completed and only conducted through their portal. This incident is part of a recurring trend of misinformation surrounding voter registration in Nigeria.

Fake websites advertising voter’s card registration circulated online during the winding down of the Continuous Voters’ Registration (CVR) exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in July 2022. These phishing websites, which were shared on social media, falsely claimed that the Nigerian government had approved online voter card registration. INEC disowned these fake websites and warned the public against falling victim to such scams. This is not the first instance of such misinformation, as similar fake websites had circulated during previous CVR exercises.

Kashim Shettima, the All Progressives Congress (APC) vice presidential candidate, responded to criticism of the party's Muslim-Muslim ticket, emphasizing it as a Nigerian project aimed at transformation rather than a sectional agenda. He expressed gratitude for the support and trust placed in him, particularly by the presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. APC national chairman Abdullahi Adamu highlighted the importance of unity within the party to ensure victory in the 2023 elections and cautioned against internal conflicts that could benefit the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

A tweet alleging that Lekan Badmus, the Personal Assistant to the Commissioner for Special Duties in Osun State, was caught with thumb-printed ballot papers in Osogbo Local Government Area is false. Lekan Badmus is actually the Osun State Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, appointed by Governor Gboyega Oyetola in September 2019. The commissioner has denied the claim, and findings by The FactCheckHub confirm the allegation is baseless.

A claim that Yusuf Lasun, the Labour Party candidate in the Osun State governorship election, has withdrawn from the poll is false. The FactCheckHub verified that Lasun remains in the race, as confirmed by his media aide and his own statements. Lasun was seen voting and warned against vote-buying. His party was also on the ballot papers used during the election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reported that the African Action Congress (AAC) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have not uploaded any candidate details for the 2023 general elections on its nomination portal, despite the deadline of July 15, 2022. INEC has processed 6,995 nomination forms from 16 political parties and has responded to over 1.6 million pages of document requests, with 147 out of 476 requests still uncollected. The portal will close automatically at 6:00pm on the deadline date.

An old video of Iyiola Omisore, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretary, sharing money has resurfaced online, with claims that it shows him distributing 'stomach infrastructure' to control people. FactCheckHub's investigation revealed that the video dates back to 2014, during Omisore's gubernatorial campaign in Osogbo, Osun State. The claim that the video is recent is false.

Daniel Bwala, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and special adviser to the Deputy Senate President on legal matters, resigned from the party citing principles and conviction. Following his resignation, misinformation spread online claiming he was the APC National Legal Adviser. FactCheckHub's investigation revealed that Bwala was never the national legal adviser; the current APC National Legal Adviser is Barrister Ahmad Usman El-Marzuq. The APC has debunked the misinformation, confirming El-Marzuq's position and clarifying Bwala's actual role.

Akin Ogunbiyi, the Accord Party's governorship candidate for the upcoming election in Osun state, claimed that there are five licensed mining companies in the state, which he said were handed to Chinese companies. Fact-checking revealed that Osun state does indeed have five licensed mining companies, but the claim that they are owned by the Chinese is false. The Nigerian Mining Corporation Inc. owns two of the licenses and is fully funded by the Federal Government. The other companies, Segilola Resources Operating Ltd and Omoluabi Mineral Promotion Company Limited, are owned by Nigerians, and Kareem Mutiu Adubi, while identified as a corporate body, is not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

An old photo of supporters of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), resurfaced online claiming to show a crowd welcoming him to Gombe State. The FactCheckHub investigated and found the claim to be misleading; the photo dates back to 2018 when Kwankwaso declared his presidential bid in Abuja. The image does not depict his recent visit to Gombe State.

The Department of State Services (DSS) identifies fake news and social media as significant threats to the 2023 general elections in Nigeria. DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya emphasizes the role of misinformation in inciting violence and urges journalists to fact-check information before publishing. He calls for collective efforts to maintain peace and warns against misinformation that could undermine Nigeria's democracy.

Security forces including the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Army, and others are patrolling Ado-Ekiti and Ekiti State ahead of the gubernatorial election. The heavy security deployment aims to ensure the safety and integrity of the election process. The election features 16 candidates, with a significant contest expected among the APC, SDP, and PDP. Key figures include APC's Biodun Oyebanji, supported by the incumbent governor, PDP's Bisi Kolawole, backed by former governor Ayodele Fayose, and SDP's Olusegun Oni, a defector from PDP.

A study by Naral Pro-Choice America reveals that Facebook is not adequately addressing the spread of anti-abortion disinformation in Spanish, affecting millions of users. The study highlights the platform's failure to curb false claims about abortion, which has significant implications for the Latin community in the U.S. The research urges Facebook to take proactive steps to limit the spread of disinformation and provide accurate context.

Olubankole Wellington, also known as Banky W, a Nigerian musician turned politician, was the subject of misinformation online regarding his participation in the People's Democratic Party (PDP) primaries for the Eti-Osa federal constituency in Lagos. Contrary to claims that he lost, Banky W won the primary election with 28 votes against his closest opponent's three votes. The article highlights the spread of false information on social media and blogs, emphasizing the importance of verifying facts. Banky W's political journey, including his previous attempt to run for office and his recent victory in the PDP primaries, is also detailed.

A viral news video by Television Continental (TVC) falsely claimed that the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) led to the killing of Deborah Samuel, a student at Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto. FactCheckHub's investigation revealed that the claim is false; Deborah Samuel was killed for alleged blasphemy against the Prophet of Islam. TVC acknowledged the error, attributing it to a mix-up by a producer, and clarified that the incident was unrelated to the ASUU strike.

Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum, has withdrawn from the 2023 presidential race. This was confirmed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Horatius Egua, and reported by the News Agency of Nigeria. The withdrawal follows President Muhammadu Buhari's directive for cabinet members running for elective positions to resign. A valedictory session was held for such ministers, and alongside Sylva, others like Chris Ngige, Abubakar Malami, Godwin Emefiele, and Pauline Tallen also withdrew from their respective races.

Rotimi Amaechi, Nigeria's Minister of Transportation, announced he will resign on Monday in compliance with President Muhammadu Buhari's directive for Federal Executive Council members seeking election to quit by May 16, 2022. Amaechi made this statement while seeking support from the All Progressives Congress delegates in Kaduna State for the presidential primary. Other ministers, including Chris Ngige, Godswill Akpabio, and Ogbonnaya Onu, have also made decisions regarding their political aspirations, with some resigning and others withdrawing from the race. Amaechi expressed gratitude to Buhari and highlighted a security concern, noting the Abuja-Kaduna train attack could have been prevented if a surveillance contract he proposed had been approved.

Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, has withdrawn his candidacy for President in Nigeria's 2023 general elections. He made the announcement on Friday, stating that the decision came after consultations and was influenced by the need to focus on his ministerial duties. Reports also suggest that Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, has withdrawn from the presidential race. Ngige's initial declaration was influenced by pressures from various supporters, who also offered to purchase the nomination forms for him. However, he has not yet submitted these forms and will not participate in the All Progressives Congress's internal party processes for the election.

The National Working Committee of the African Action Congress has completed preparations to submit the party's membership register to the Independent National Electoral Commission, complying with the Electoral Act 2022. Members are urged to register on the party's website before the deadline to avoid disenfranchisement in party primaries. INEC has mandated all political parties to submit their membership registers as part of the legal requirements for credible primaries and elections.