The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed a viral graphic circulating online which claims the commission set March 26 as the deadline for government officials seeking elective office to resign.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement issued on Friday, the electoral body said the information contained in the graphic is false and did not originate from the commission.
“The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been drawn to a graphic currently circulating online claiming that the Commission has announced March 26 as the deadline for government officials seeking election to resign,” the statement reads.
“The Commission wishes to state clearly that the information is false and did not emanate from INEC.
“INEC has not issued any such announcement, and the graphic being circulated is fake and misleading. Members of the public, media organisations, and political stakeholders are therefore advised to disregard the message in its entirety.”
The commission urged Nigerians to rely only on its verified communication channels for official updates on electoral matters.
“For the avoidance of doubt, all official information, announcements, and updates from the Commission are published only through INEC’s verified channels,” the statement reads.
INEC listed its official website, verified social media platforms, and press releases issued by the commission as the authentic sources for its announcements.
The electoral body also cautioned the public against sharing unverified election-related information that could mislead citizens.
“Citizens are strongly encouraged to verify election-related information through these official sources and avoid sharing unverified content capable of misleading the public,” the statement added.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to providing “accurate, timely, and transparent information to the public.”
