Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed as fake a viral online publication claiming to be a special announcement by the commission on governorship candidates in six states.
INEC, in a public notice issued on Monday, said the publication did not come from the electoral body and urged Nigerians to ignore and stop circulating the false information.
The affected states mentioned in the fake publication are 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 statement said.
The electoral umpire advised citizens to rely only on information released through its verified communication platforms to avoid being misled by fraudulent electoral reports.
INEC listed its official channels as its website, INEC Nigeria Facebook page, its official X and Instagram handles, as well as the INEC News Portal.
The commission further clarified that any claim suggesting it had released a special announcement concerning governorship candidates in the six states was false.
“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 stated.
The warning comes as Nigeria continues preparations ahead of future electoral activities, with INEC repeatedly urging citizens to verify political and electoral information before sharing.
The commission said spreading unverified election-related information could create confusion among voters and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
INEC urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and always confirm election updates through its official communication platforms.
“The Commission reiterates its commitment to keeping the public accurately informed and urges everyone to disregard the fraudulent publication and obtain electoral information only from INEC’s official communication channels,” the statement added.
The commission also provided its official contact channels for enquiries, including its call centre, short code, phone lines and email address, where members of the public can seek clarification on electoral matters.
