The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disowned a fraudulent online publication claiming to be a special announcement on governorship candidates in six states ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission identified the affected states as Zamfara, Gombe, Delta, Plateau, Yobe and Kano, urging Nigerians to disregard the circulating publication and rely on its verified communication channels for electoral information.
In a statement, INEC described the publication as fake and clarified that it did not originate from the commission.
“The Commission wishes to categorically inform the general public that the publication is FAKE and did not originate from INEC,” the statement read.
The electoral body also urged members of the public to refrain from sharing the fraudulent information to prevent confusion and the spread of misleading claims about the electoral process.
The warning comes amid public attention surrounding the commission’s final list of governorship candidates for the February 6, 2027 elections and questions over the omission of some candidates from the published records.
In Kano State, the Kwankwassiyya Movement has vowed to engage INEC over the reported omission of Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate, and his running mate, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The movement’s spokesperson, Habibu Mohammed, said the omissions came as a surprise, maintaining that the candidates had met the requirements for participation in the election. He said the group would explore available legal options to address the matter.
The NDC has also described the omission as an error and indicated that it was seeking a resolution through engagement with the electoral commission.
In Gombe and Ogun states, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has similarly raised concerns over the absence of its governorship candidates, Professor Isa Ali Pantami and Ladi Adebutu, respectively, from INEC’s final list.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, said the PDP was engaging the commission to resolve the matter and urged affected candidates, members and supporters to remain calm while discussions continued.
The controversy follows a Supreme Court judgment on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 concerning political party membership registers and participation in party primaries. The ruling has renewed scrutiny of parties’ compliance with statutory requirements for candidate nominations.
However, INEC’s disavowal of the fake publication should be distinguished from the separate controversy over candidates whose names were reportedly absent from the official list.
The commission’s warning concerns a fraudulent announcement circulating online; it does not, by itself, resolve the individual disputes over candidate omissions.
As political parties seek clarification, INEC has urged Nigerians to verify election-related information through its official channels rather than relying on unconfirmed social media publications.
The development underscores the importance of accurate electoral information as political parties and candidates prepare for the 2027 general elections.
