FACT-CHECK: Viral Video Claiming Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma Was Locked Out of Aso Rock Meeting is False!
BY: Eniola Amadu
Claim:
A viral video footage is circulating online showing Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma was locked out of a meeting with the Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa (Aso Rock).
Verdict:
Misleading.
Full Text:
A user on X, named @LM_MessiRebirth, has claimed that the Governor of Imo state, and Secretary of the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Hope Uzodimma was locked out of a meeting by the Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu.
According to the caption as alleged by the user, it reads: “Tinubu locked out Hope Uzodinma during the meeting with his campaign DG and other party dignitaries.😆”
The post as at the time of filing this report has garnered over one thousand reposts, two hundred and seventy six comments, over four thousand likes.
Similar posts were found here, here, here and here on X amongst others.
Verification:
FactCheckAfrica watched the viral video all through, and indeed noticed that the video contained a frame where the Governor struggled to open a door as claimed on X.
Similar video frames also appeared in several other videos posted here on Facebook by TVC and here posted by a YouTube page named Viable TV revealing that the Uzodimma struggled to open the door for accessibility.
However, further search led to the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) publication on YouTube of the same event and revealed that the Governor had entry access.
A screenshot of the Imo State Governor entry from the NTA publication
Conclusion:
The alleged claim that Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma was locked out of a meeting with the Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa (Aso Rock) is False. Only a key section of the video available was framed.
