The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned Nigerians against a fraudulent online publication claiming to be a special announcement concerning governorship candidates in six states.
The affected states are Zamfara, Gombe, Delta, Plateau, Yobe and Kano.
In a public notice, the commission described the publication as fake, stressing that it did not originate from INEC and urging members of the public to disregard it.
“The Commission wishes to categorically inform the general public that the publication is FAKE and did not originate from INEC,” the notice stated.
INEC also dismissed claims that it had issued a special announcement concerning governorship candidates in the six states, insisting that the information was false.
“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 body urged Nigerians to refrain from sharing the fraudulent publication, warning that the circulation of unverified information could mislead the public and create confusion about the commission’s activities.
It advised citizens, political parties, candidates and other electoral stakeholders to verify information relating to elections, candidate lists and official announcements before accepting or sharing such reports.
According to the commission, official information should be obtained exclusively through its verified communication channels.
“The public is advised to rely solely on official notices, press releases, and other information issued through the Commission’s verified communication channels,” the notice stated.
INEC listed its official website as inecnigeria.org, its Facebook account as INEC Nigeria, and its X and Instagram handles as @inecnigeria.
The commission also identified its news portal, inecnews.com, as one of the platforms through which the public can access official updates.
It called on Nigerians to remain vigilant when dealing with electoral information circulating on social media, particularly announcements that appear to have originated from the commission.
“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,” the notice said.
INEC further urged members of the public to seek clarification through its designated communication channels whenever they encounter questionable announcements or reports purportedly issued in its name.
The commission stressed that the public should not accept or circulate election-related information simply because it carries the commission’s name or appears to be an official notice.
It warned that sharing unverified publications could contribute to the spread of misinformation and undermine public understanding of electoral developments.
The notice also provided contact details for Nigerians seeking confirmation or clarification about information attributed to the electoral body.
“For enquiries and further clarification, members of the public may contact INEC through the following channels,” the commission stated.
It listed its call centre number as 0700-CALL-INEC (0700-2255-4632) and its short code as 4632.
The commission also provided 090844444333 and 09050858629 as contact numbers for enquiries, alongside its email address, iccc@inec.gov.ng.
INEC reiterated its commitment to providing accurate information on electoral matters and urged Nigerians to disregard the fraudulent publication concerning governorship candidates in the six states.
“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,” the notice added.