By Annette Ikponmwonba | October 12, 2026
Key Points
· INEC has warned Nigerians against a fake announcement circulating online about governorship candidates in six states
· The publication mentions Zamfara, Gombe, Delta, Plateau, Yobe and Kano, and INEC says it did not originate from the commission
· INEC described the announcement as fraudulent and urged the public to disregard it and avoid sharing it
· The commission also dismissed claims that it had issued a special announcement on governorship candidates in the affected states
· Nigerians are advised to verify electoral information only through INEC’s official website, news portal and verified social media handles
· INEC provided a call centre, short code, phone numbers and an email address for enquiries
Main Story
The Independent National Electoral Commission has warned Nigerians against a fake announcement circulating online about governorship candidates in six states. The commission said the publication, which mentions Zamfara, Gombe, Delta, Plateau, Yobe and Kano states, did not originate from it.
INEC made this known in a public notice released on its X handle, describing the announcement as fraudulent and urging members of the public to disregard it and avoid sharing it. The commission also dismissed claims that it had issued a special announcement concerning governorship candidates in the affected state, It advised Nigerians to verify electoral information through its official communication channels rather than rely on unconfirmed publications circulating on social media.
The Issues
The notice highlights the growing problem of fake election-related content spreading on social media, particularly as political activity builds ahead of the 2027 elections. A forged announcement that appears to come from INEC, especially one naming specific states and candidates, can easily mislead voters, stir political tension and damage public trust in the electoral process.
It also shows how quickly unverified material can circulate before the authentic source has a chance to respond. By naming six states, the fake publication was designed to look specific and credible, which makes it more likely to be shared widely without checking, The episode puts pressure on INEC to keep its official channels visible and responsive, and it places a responsibility on citizens to confirm information before forwarding it.
What’s Being Said
INEC was firm in rejecting the publication, calling it fraudulent and stressing that it had issued no special announcement on governorship candidates in the affected states. The commission urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and confirm election-related information through its verified platforms to avoid being misled.
INEC listed its official channels as its website at inecnigeria.org, its news portal at inecnews.com, INEC Nigeria on Facebook, and @inecnigeria on X and Instagram. For enquiries, it provided its call centre line 0700-2255-4632, short code 4632, phone numbers 090844444333 and 09050858629, and the email iccc@inec.gov.ng, The commission reiterated its commitment to providing accurate information to the public.
What’s Next
Nigerians are expected to continue relying on INEC’s verified platforms for authentic election information, while the commission is likely to keep issuing clarifications whenever fake notices surface, Attention may also turn to whether any action is taken against those behind the forged announcement, and whether INEC steps up public awareness efforts as the election cycle gathers pace.
Bottom Line
INEC has made it clear that the viral governorship candidates announcement is fake, and its message to the public is simple, verify through official channels before believing or sharing any election-related information.
