Twitter removes Osinbajo’s verification tag after handover

Yemi Osinbajo

Twitter has removed the verification tag attached to the account of former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The special verification tag prior to its removal was designed for government officials.

But former Presdient Muhammadu Buhari’s verification tag remained intact as of press time.

The removal of the verification tag became conspicuous following the handover to a new government on Monday.

It was not immediately clear if it was a technical issue.

In April, Twitter removed the verification tags of many public figures across the world.

Twitter chief executive officer Elon Musk announced earlier that users would now have to pay $8 monthly as verification subscription fee.

Mr Musk had announced the final date for the free badge removal to be April 20, 2023. It was effected as announced.

Musk described the blue verification tick as a “lords & peasants system.”

In Nigeria, many were affected including politicians and entertainers. Among the politicians affected were Peter Obi, Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, and Shehu Sani.

The verification tags were partially returned following backlash from the public.

Twitter introduced the blue tick verification process in 2009 in response to celebrity concerns about impersonation.