A video shared on Facebook purports Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi stated he was able to pull 439 million people out of poverty.

Verdict: False

The post’s caption is inaccurate. There is no evidence that Obi made this claim.

Fact Check:

Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election is set for next month with 18 candidates running, Premium Times reported. Obi, who leads polls and has described the country as a “failing state,” has centered his campaign around fighting corruption and general insecurity, Al Jazeera reported.

A Facebook video claims to show Obi touting he had pulled a large number of people from poverty in the country. “Mr Obi said he lifted 439 million people from Poverty as Anambra Governor,” the caption reads. “The way this man tells serious lies effortlessly must be studied in the University of Propaganda. How can you lift 439 million people out of poverty in a state whose population is not above 6 million.”  (RELATED: Does This Photo Show A Former UK Health Minister With His Book ‘How To Get Away With Muder?’)

It is true that Anambra state, which Obi had served as governor between 2007 and 2014, has a population no larger than 5.5 million, according to the European Union Agency for Asylum. Data from the World Bank also shows the population of Nigeria at 213 million, making any such claim incorrect.

However, the caption is misleading in its claim Obi made the statement. There is no credible news report that suggests Obi made any such statement regarding his record. The original video, which shows the entire speech, does not feature the purported remark.

This is not the first time misinformation about prominent figures has circulated online. Check Your Fact recently debunked a claim Prince Harry’s book is being sold at Poundland.