WorldStage– The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has alerted the public to a fraudulent online publication masquerading as a “special announcement” concerning the list of governorship candidates in six states.
The electoral umpire urged citizens to completely disregard the viral document, describing it as entirely fabricated.
In a public notice released on Monday, October 12, 2026, INEC clarified that it did not author or authorize the document circulating across various social media platforms.
According to the commission, the misleading publication targetted governorship candidates in Zamfara, Gombe, Delta, Plateau, Yobe, and Kano states.
“The Commission wishes to categorically inform the general public that the publication is FAKE and did not originate from INEC,” the official statement read.
The electoral body further emphasized that it has not declared any special review or announcement regarding candidates in the six affected states.
Officials expressed concern over the potential of such malicious reports to mislead voters and inflame unnecessary political tensions.
INEC therefore advised members of the public to refrain from sharing or spreading the unverified material to prevent the propagation of fake news.
With political activities pacing forward across the country, INEC reiterated its commitment to transparency and premium data security.
The commission strongly advised Nigerians to cross-check any sensitive electoral updates through its designated platforms rather than relying on anonymous internet forwards.
To ensure citizens have direct access to factual updates, the commission listed its verified communication portals, which include its main website at inecnigeria.org, its dedicated news hub at inecnews.com, and its official social media handles @inecnigeria on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
This incident comes as part of a series of warnings issued by the electoral body against digital syndicates attempting to exploit public interest in political proceedings.
Voters and stakeholders nationwide are continuously encouraged to remain vigilant, question sensational online claims, and prioritize official press statements from authorized channels.
