BY: Mustapha Lawal
Claim:
A message circulating on WhatsApp claims that Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, is offering Nigerians N100,000 as a cash giveaway amid the ongoing Osun State governorship election.
Verdict:
FALSE! FactCheckAfrica found no credible evidence that Davido or Governor Ademola Adeleke announced a N100,000 giveaway to Nigerians. The link accompanying the claim leads to a suspicious website that requests users’ bank details and encourages them to share the message widely on WhatsApp.
Full Text
As Nigerians participate in the Osun State governorship election, a message claiming that Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, is offering Nigerians N100,000 has circulated on WhatsApp.
The claim is particularly sensitive because Davido is the nephew of Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking re-election in the election. Davido has also publicly supported his uncle’s campaign and was involved in the campaign’s youth mobilisation efforts.
The message therefore appears to link the alleged giveaway to the ongoing political activities in the state.
However, FactCheckAfrica checked if there is credible evidence that Davido or Governor Adeleke announced such a cash giveaway.
Verification
FactCheckAfrica reviewed the claim and searched for evidence of the alleged N100,000 giveaway on Davido’s verified social media platforms.
No announcement matching the claim was found.
While Davido has been actively involved in his uncle’s re-election campaign, including serving as chairman of youth mobilisation for the campaign council and publicly campaigning for Governor Adeleke, this does not constitute evidence that he announced a nationwide cash giveaway.
FactCheckAfrica also examined the link attached to the WhatsApp message.
Rather than directing users to an official platform belonging to Davido or Governor Adeleke, the link led to a suspicious website requesting users to provide their bank account details.
The website also instructed users to share the message with five WhatsApp groups or 15 people before purportedly accessing the giveaway.
Such instructions are a common form of engagement bait used to increase the reach of suspicious links and can expose users to phishing attempts or the collection of personal and financial information.
There is also no credible announcement from the relevant official campaign or public channels confirming that Nigerians are being offered N100,000 by Davido or Governor Adeleke.
The use of Davido’s name and his connection to the Osun State governor gives the message an appearance of credibility, particularly during an election period when political information is circulating rapidly.
However, the absence of the alleged giveaway from Davido’s verified platforms, coupled with the suspicious website’s request for users’ financial information and its demand that they distribute the link widely, are major red flags.
Users should be particularly cautious about social media giveaways that require them to provide bank details, passwords, PINs, OTPs or other sensitive information.
Electoral context
The claim is also circulating during an election period, making it important to distinguish legitimate campaign activities from alleged financial inducements.
Section 121(1)(a) of Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2022 criminalises the act of offering money or gifts to influence a voter or candidate.
Therefore, claims involving alleged cash distributions or giveaways during an election should be independently verified before being shared or acted upon.
Conclusion
There is no credible evidence that Davido or Governor Ademola Adeleke announced a N100,000 cash giveaway for Nigerians. The link circulating with the claim leads to a suspicious website requesting users’ bank details and encouraging them to share the message with multiple WhatsApp groups and contacts.
Davido’s involvement in Governor Adeleke’s re-election campaign is established, but that does not substantiate the alleged N100,000 giveaway.
FactCheckAfrica advises Nigerians not to provide their bank details or other sensitive information through the circulating link and to verify similar giveaway claims through the verified channels of the person or organisation purportedly offering them.
