INEC debunks fake governorship candidates’ list in six states

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned Nigerians against a fake online publication claiming to announce governorship candidates in six states ahead of upcoming elections.

The commission identified the affected states as Zamfara, Gombe, Delta, Plateau, Yobe and Kano, describing the purported announcement as fraudulent.

INEC issued the warning in a public notice on Monday, shared across its official social media platforms.

“The Commission wishes to categorically inform the general public that the publication is FAKE and did not originate from INEC,” the statement read.

The electoral body urged Nigerians to disregard the publication and avoid sharing it, warning that the information could mislead members of the public.

It also clarified that it had not issued any special announcement concerning governorship candidates in the six states.

“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 added.

The commission advised Nigerians to verify electoral information through its official communication channels, including its website, inecnigeria.org, and its verified social media accounts.

INEC listed its X and Instagram handles as @inecnigeria, its Facebook page as INEC Nigeria and its news portal as inecnews.com.

For further enquiries, the commission provided its call centre number as 0700-2255-4632, short code 4632, telephone numbers 090844444333 and 09050858629, and email address iccc@inec.gov.ng.

INEC reiterated its commitment to providing accurate electoral information and urged the public to rely on verified sources to avoid falling victim to misleading publications.