The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disowned the circulation of what it described as a “fraudulent” list of governorship candidates for the 2027 elections.

“The Commission wishes to categorically inform the general public that the publication is FAKE and did not originate from INEC. INEC therefore urges members of the public to disregard the fraudulent publication and refrain from sharing it,” the electoral umpire wrote in a post on its X handle.

It said the list affects the governorship candidates in six states: Zamfara, Gombe, Delta, Plateau, Yobe, and Kano.

According to INEC, any information suggesting that it has issued a special announcement concerning governorship candidates in the aforementioned states is false.

PUBLIC NOTICE

The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been drawn to a fraudulent publication circulating online and purporting to be a special announcement by the Commission regarding issues affecting the list of governorship candidates in six states: 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.

INEC therefore urges members of the public to disregard the fraudulent publication and refrain from sharing it. The public is advised to rely solely on official notices, press releases, and other information issued through the Commission’s verified communication channels, listed below:

– Website: https://t.co/pfVvI2IKPj

-Facebook: INEC Nigeria

-X (formerly Twitter) & Instagram : @inecnigeria

-INEC News Portal: https://t.co/P31uifniap

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.

The Commission calls on the public to remain vigilant and verify all electoral information through its official communication channels to avoid being misled by false or fraudulent publications.

For enquiries and further clarification, members of the public may contact INEC through the following channels:

INEC Call Centre: 0700-CALL-INEC (0700-2255-4632)

INEC Short Code: 4632

Phone: 090844444333 | 09050858629

Email: iccc@inec.gov.ng

Website: https://t.co/pfVvI2IKPj

News Portal: https://t.co/P31uifniap

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.

— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) October 12, 2026

It advised the public “to rely solely on official notices, press releases, and other information issued through the Commission’s verified communication channels” including its website and verified social media platforms.

INEC’s warning came days after it released the final list of candidates for the governorship election billed for early next year. The development has generated controversy in many states after some candidates’ names were omitted from the list. (Channels)