FAKE NEWS ALERT: INEC did not extend voting period in 16 states

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 16 states’ voting periods have not been extended.

Currently, a message on WhatsApp claims that INEC has extended the voting period for the presidential and national assembly elections.

The announcement claims that because of the violence present in some areas and the delayed delivery of electoral supplies in other places, INEC decided to postpone the election till Sunday, February 26.

The statement identified affected states as Lagos (Surulere, Ikate, Okota, Eti-Osa, Kosofe and Oshodi), FCT, Ebonyi, Rivers, Imo, Anambra, Kano and Edo.

Others are Delta, Kogi, Bayelsa, Enugu, Sokoto, Taraba, Abia, and, Ekiti.

“Voting in the affected areas will resume by 8 am till 12 pm on the 26th February 2023,” the statement reads.

“Therefore, it advised that staff and stakeholders continue to adhere to all Government/INEC directives and security advisories concerning this election.

Therefore, it advised that staff and stakeholders continue to adhere to all Government/INEC directives and security advisories concerning this election.

We would keep an eye on the situation and promptly update everyone around the nation.

Festus Okoye, the national commissioner of INEC and the chairman of the information and voter education committee, however, claimed the message was “false” when TheCable called him.

In addition, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the INEC spokesperson, urged Nigerians to ignore the message in a tweet.

In 16 States, INEC did not extend the voting period. The following report is false and ought to be ignored, he stated.

“Voters in locations whose PUs did not open at 8.30 am were given an extension of time. Voting continues after the 2.30 p.m. stoppage time for those in line before that time.

While INEC has refuted the claims that polls had been extended in 16 states, it did previously postpone voting in 141 polling places in Bayelsa state till Sunday am.

The election was delayed in the concerned polling units, according to INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, since the voting process had been interfered with.