INEC Disowns Fake 2027 Governorship Candidates List for Six States
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed a viral list purportedly detailing governorship candidates for the 2027 elections in six Nigerian states, describing the publication as fake and fraudulent.
The electoral commission issued the warning in a public notice shared on its verified X account on Monday, October 12, 2026. It said the circulating document did not originate from the commission and urged Nigerians to disregard it.
The states named in the disputed publication are Zamfara, Gombe, Delta, Plateau, Yobe and Kano. INEC clarified that claims suggesting it had released a special announcement concerning governorship candidates in these states were false.
“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 warned members of the public against sharing the document, urging Nigerians to verify electoral information before circulating it. The commission advised citizens to rely on its official notices, press releases, website and verified social media accounts for accurate updates.
For further enquiries, the commission provided its call centre number, 0700-2255-4632, as well as its short code, 4632. It also listed the phone numbers 090844444333 and 09050858629, alongside the email address iccc@inec.gov.ng, for enquiries and clarification.
The warning comes amid growing attention to the publication of candidate lists ahead of the 2027 governorship elections. According to the supplied report, INEC had recently released a final list of candidates for elections scheduled for early next year, prompting controversy in several states over the omission of some names.
The commission reiterated its call for Nigerians to remain vigilant and obtain election-related information only through verified channels. It said the public should avoid spreading fraudulent publications that could mislead voters and create confusion ahead of the elections.