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INEC says viral “special announcement” on governorship candidates in six states is fraudulent
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Commission denies announcing problems affecting candidates in Zamfara, Kano, Delta, Gombe, Plateau and Yobe
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Electoral body warns Nigerians against sharing the fabricated notice
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INEC urges political parties, voters and other stakeholders to verify electoral information through its official channels
October 12, (THEWILL) – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disowned a viral publication claiming that there are issues affecting the list of governorship candidates in six states ahead of the 2027 general election, declaring the purported notice fraudulent.
The Commission, in a Public Notice dated October 12, 2026, said the document circulating online and presented as a “special announcement” did not originate from INEC.
The controversial publication specifically named Zamfara, Gombe, Delta, Plateau, Yobe and Kano states, claiming that there were unspecified issues affecting the list of governorship candidates in the six states.
It also purported that INEC would provide a further update on the matter on Monday and announce steps that could be taken to resolve the alleged issues.
However, INEC categorically rejected the claims, warning that no such announcement had been issued by the Commission.
“The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been drawn to a fraudulent publication circulating online and purporting to be a special announcement by the Commission regarding issues affecting the list of governorship candidates in six states: Zamfara, Gombe, Delta, Plateau, Yobe, and Kano.
“The Commission wishes to categorically inform the general public that the publication is FAKE and did not originate from INEC,” the electoral body said.
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INEC urged Nigerians to disregard the publication and refrain from circulating it, warning that election-related information should be verified before being shared.
It further clarified that it had made no special announcement concerning governorship candidates in any of the six states mentioned in the fabricated document.
“The Commission further wishes to clarify that any information suggesting that INEC has issued a special announcement concerning governorship candidates in the aforementioned states is false,” it said.
The Commission advised Nigerians, political parties, candidates and other election stakeholders to rely on its verified communication platforms for authentic information concerning the electoral process.
It identified its official website, verified social media accounts and INEC News Portal among the channels through which the public could confirm information attributed to the electoral body.
“The Commission calls on the public to remain vigilant and verify all electoral information through its official communication channels to avoid being misled by false or fraudulent publications,” INEC added.
It also provided its call centre, short code, telephone numbers and email address for members of the public seeking clarification on information purportedly originating from the Commission.
INEC reiterated its commitment to keeping Nigerians accurately informed, while warning that fabricated electoral information could mislead voters and other stakeholders.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
