INEC Warns Nigerians Against Fake Governorship Candidates’ List for Six States

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned Nigerians against circulating a fake online notice purporting to announce governorship candidates in six states.

The affected states are Zamfara, Gombe, Delta, Plateau, Yobe and Kano.

In a public notice issued on Monday and circulated through its official social media platforms, the commission dismissed the publication as fraudulent, warning that it was not responsible for its release.

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

INEC urged members of the public to disregard the notice and avoid sharing it across social media platforms or other communication channels.

The commission also advised Nigerians to verify electoral information through its official website, press releases and verified social media accounts rather than relying on unconfirmed online publications.

“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 electoral umpire called on citizens to remain vigilant and exercise caution when encountering information relating to elections, stressing the importance of verifying such reports before sharing them.

To facilitate access to authentic information, INEC listed its website as inecnigeria.org, with @inecnigeria as its X and Instagram handles. Its official Facebook page is INEC Nigeria, while its news portal is inecnews.com.

The commission also provided its contact centre number as 0700-2255-4632, short code 4632, telephone numbers 090844444333 and 09050858629, and email address iccc@inec.gov.ng for enquiries and clarification.

Reaffirming its commitment to public information, the commission reiterated its dedication to “keeping the public accurately informed and urged Nigerians to obtain electoral information only through its official communication channels.”

The warning comes two days after INEC released the final lists of candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship elections, amid reports that some candidates were missing from the published documents.

Among those reportedly omitted were the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidates in Ogun and Gombe states, Ladi Adebutu and Isa Pantami, respectively.

The lists, published on Saturday, did not provide explanations for the omissions, raising questions about the status of the affected candidates.

INEC’s latest clarification underscores the need for the public to distinguish between verified electoral announcements and misleading publications as preparations for the 2027 governorship elections continue.