Claim
A Facebook post by “TVC News Nigeria – Arise News Today” claims that a former President, Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo, has endorsed Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, for the 2026 Osun governorship election.
The post includes a photo of Obasanjo and Adeleke on a campaign stage with a large screen displaying “OSUN STATE GRAND CAMPAIGN – ADELEKE 2026 – ENDORSED BY OBASANJO” and the caption: “Congratulations to the dancing governor and the people of Osun state. Your governor now has the blessings and backing of OBJ”.
Verdict
FALSE
The image is digitally manipulated and made with Artificial Intelligence. There is no credible evidence that Olusegun Obasanjo has publicly endorsed Governor Ademola Adeleke for the 2026 Osun governorship election.
Why this matters
False political endorsements can:
- mislead voters about the position of influential political figures;
- create artificial momentum for a candidate;
- contribute to misinformation during the electoral process.
Such claims should be verified through official statements, verified social media accounts, or reputable news organisations before being shared.
What We Found
1. The image contains clear signs of manipulation
A close examination of the screenshot shows that:
- the wording “ADELEKE 2026 – ENDORSED BY OBASANJO” appears unusually superimposed on the LED screen;
- the typography and alignment are inconsistent with the rest of the stage graphics;
- confetti effects partially cover the text in a way that resembles edited promotional artwork rather than a real event photograph.
- A text on a campaign banner in the left side of the image read: ‘LARAIGN’, It is not an English word. It has no meaning that is in relationship with the campaign.
- A close look at the campaign banners showed there is a logo of the Peoples Democratic Party on it while the Governor is a member of the Accord Party.
2. No credible media organisation has reported the endorsement
Searches of major Nigerian news platforms, including TVC News, Arise News, Channels Television, Punch, Premium Times, Vanguard, and TheCable, show no report announcing that Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo endorsed Adeleke for the 2026 Osun election.
If a former Nigerian president had made such a significant political endorsement, it would have received widespread coverage across national media.
3. The Facebook page name is misleading
The page uses the name “TVC News Nigeria – Arise News Today”, combining the names of two separate Nigerian television networks. This is a common tactic used by unofficial social media pages to appear credible.
There is no evidence that the post originated from the verified accounts of TVC News or Arise News.
4. Obasanjo has appeared publicly with Adeleke before
Olusegun Obasanjo and Governor Adeleke have attended public events together in the past, and genuine photographs of them together exist. However, a real photo of two politicians together does not prove an endorsement. The manipulated campaign-screen text appears to have been added to create that impression.
Sources checked
- Official and verified platforms of TVC News and Arise News
- Nigerian national newspapers and broadcast outlets:
- Channels Television
- Premium Times
- Punch
- Vanguard
- TheCable
No supporting report or official statement confirming the endorsement was found.
Conclusion
The Facebook post claiming that Olusegun Obasanjo has endorsed Governor Ademola Adeleke for the 2026 Osun governorship election is false.
The image used in the post shows strong indications of digital alteration or creation with AI, and no credible evidence or official announcement supports the claim that Obasanjo has endorsed Adeleke for the 2026 election.
