The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned Nigerians against a fraudulent online publication falsely presented as an official announcement on governorship candidates in six states ahead of the 2027 elections.
The commission identified the affected states as Zamfara, Gombe, Delta, Plateau, Yobe and Kano, urging members of the public to disregard the publication and avoid circulating it.
In a public notice issued on Monday, October 12, INEC said the purported announcement did not originate from the electoral body.
“The Commission wishes to categorically inform the general public that the publication is FAKE and did not originate from INEC,” the statement said.
The commission clarified that it had not issued any special announcement concerning governorship candidates in the six states, warning that claims suggesting otherwise were false.
It urged Nigerians to verify electoral information through its official communication channels, including its website, verified social media accounts and official press releases, rather than relying on unverified online publications.
INEC also provided its official contact channels for members of the public seeking clarification, including its call centre number, 0700-2255-4632, and email address, iccc@inec.gov.ng.
The warning comes amid growing attention to the commission’s final lists of candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship elections, following reports that some prominent candidates were missing from the published lists.
Among those reportedly omitted were Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidates Ladi Adebutu in Ogun State and Isa Ali Pantami in Gombe State. Their names were absent from the published lists, although the documents did not state the reasons for the omissions.
The development has raised questions surrounding candidate nominations and the publication of the final lists, making the commission’s clarification particularly significant as political activities gather momentum ahead of the elections.
INEC urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, verify claims before sharing them and rely exclusively on its verified communication channels for accurate electoral information.
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