The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disowned a fake online publication claiming to be a special announcement on governorship candidates in six states.

Politics Nigeria reports that the commission identified the affected states as Zamfara, Gombe, Delta, Plateau, Yobe and Kano.

It urged members of the public to disregard the publication and rely on its verified communication channels for electoral information.

INEC said the publication did not originate from the commission and described it as fraudulent.

“The Commission wishes to categorically inform the general public that the publication is FAKE and did not originate from INEC,” the statement partly read.

“INEC therefore urges members of the public to disregard the fraudulent publication and refrain from sharing it.”

The commission’s warning comes amid concerns over the omission of several candidates from its final list of governorship candidates for the 2027 elections.

In Kano State, the Kwankwassiyya Movement has vowed to engage INEC over the omission of Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) deputy governorship candidate, and his principal, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, from the final list.

Habibu Mohammed, spokesperson for the movement, said the omissions came as a shock, insisting that the candidates had met the requirements for registration.

Speaking on Arise Television, Mohammed said the movement would explore the legal provisions available to candidates whose names were omitted from the commission’s list.

“It came as a shock because there had been no issue with INEC. Kwankwas, a former deputy governor, is registered with the NDC and met the stipulated deadline,” he said.

He added that electoral provisions allow affected candidates 14 days to seek redress over omissions from the list.

“We will explore that opportunity and engage with INEC,” Mohammed said.

The spokesperson maintained that the movement was unaware of any court judgment or order that could have justified the omission.

He expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved through engagement with the commission and the available legal procedures.

The NDC has also described the omission as an error and said it is seeking a correction.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also begun engaging INEC over the omission of its governorship candidates in Ogun and Gombe states.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the party was working towards an amicable resolution in line with the law and established electoral guidelines.

He assured affected candidates, members and supporters that the party was treating the matter seriously and would communicate further developments when necessary.

The PDP also urged those affected to remain calm and exercise patience while discussions with the commission continued.

This was just as the party warned against actions or statements that could undermine the ongoing engagements with INEC, stressing its commitment to addressing the concerns through lawful means.

INEC released its final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship elections on Saturday.

The list, signed by the commission’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, and published on its website, contained 13 candidates in Ogun State and 16 in Gombe State, with no PDP candidate listed in either state.

Among those omitted were Ladi Adebutu, the PDP candidate in Ogun State, and Isa Ali Pantami, the party’s candidate in Gombe State.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has moved to address rail connectivity and logistics challenges affecting inland dry ports as part of efforts to integrate the facilities into the nation’s port system and improve cargo movement across the country.

The move followed a meeting between the NPA management, led by its Managing Director, Abubakar Dantsoho, and the Executive Director of Dala Inland Dry Port, Ahmad Rabiu, alongside representatives of Funtua Inland Dry Port, at the authority’s corporate headquarters in Marina, Lagos.

The engagement came after the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, directed the transfer of operational oversight of inland dry ports to the NPA.

The discussions focused on strengthening institutional collaboration, addressing infrastructure constraints and improving operational efficiency across Nigeria’s maritime logistics chain.

Speaking during the meeting, Mr Dantsoho stressed the need to upgrade inland dry port infrastructure and technical capacity to complement ongoing modernisation efforts at the nation’s seaports.

He said the facilities must be equipped to handle increasing cargo volumes and support the broader transformation of Nigeria’s maritime sector.

“For our Inland Dry Ports to function at the same velocity as the ongoing modernisation across our seaports, we must proactively upgrade dry port infrastructure and technical capacity,” Mr Dantsoho said.

He explained that the integration of digital platforms, including the Port Community System (PCS) and the National Single Window, into seaport operations must be matched by corresponding improvements at inland dry ports.

“As we integrate digital systems such as the Port Community System (PCS) and the National Single Window in our seaports, the dry ports must deploy modern equipment and advanced technical capabilities to handle larger cargo volumes and bigger vessels coming to our coast,” he added.

Increased private-sector investment

The NPA managing director also called for increased private-sector investment in inland dry port infrastructure, noting that stronger investment would be critical to improving cargo handling capacity and operational efficiency.

He cited APM Terminals’ establishment of an Export Processing Terminal in Northern Nigeria as an example of private-sector participation in the development of inland logistics infrastructure.

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Mr Dantsoho assured stakeholders that efforts to optimise the inland port system were underway and confirmed plans to visit the Dala and Funtua facilities to assess their operational conditions and infrastructure requirements.

Operational oversight

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Hassan Bello welcomed the transfer of operational oversight to the NPA, expressing appreciation for what he described as a seamless transition.

Mr Bello referenced the gazetted Port Act, which recognises inland dry ports as official ports of origin and destination, while drawing attention to challenges confronting the facilities, particularly inadequate rail connectivity and broader logistics constraints.

Rail access is a critical component of inland dry port operations, as efficient connections to the national rail network can facilitate cargo movement between seaports and inland destinations, potentially reducing pressure on road transport and lowering logistics costs.

The meeting also established a framework for further technical consultations, infrastructure integration and physical planning to identify the requirements for improving operations at the facilities.

The discussions highlighted the need for detailed technical assessments, stakeholder coordination and physical inspections to establish infrastructure priorities and guide subsequent project development.

The planned visits to Dala and Funtua inland dry ports are expected to provide NPA with a clearer understanding of the facilities’ operational challenges and the interventions required to strengthen their roles in cargo distribution, trade facilitation and wider maritime logistics network.