The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied reports that it has extended the voting period in 16 states.
A purported statement claiming that INEC had extended the voting period for the presidential and national assembly polls was making the rounds on social media.
Festus Okoye, INEC’s national commissioner and chairman of the information and voter education committee, he said the message is “fake”.
Similarly, Rotimi Oyekanmi, INEC spokesperson, in a post on social media, urged Nigerian to disregard the message.
“INEC did not extend the voting period in 16 States. The story below is fake and should be disregarded,” he said in a tweet.
“An extension of time was granted to voters in areas where PUs did not open at 8.30 am. Voters on the queue before 2.30 pm are then allowed beyond the 2.30 p.m. stoppage time.”
Fake INEC statement
The fake statement claimed that INEC made the decision to extend the election to Sunday, February 26, due to violence and late arrival of election materials in some polling units.
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.
“We would continue to monitor the situation and provide timely situation reports across the country.”
INEC has however announced suspension of elections in 141 polling units in Bayelsa state till Sunday morning.
INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu noted that voting was postponed in the affected polling units because the voting process was disrupted.
