The All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria's ruling party, has publicly rejected a circulated list of alleged winners from its recent primary elections, calling it fraudulent and unauthorized. In a statement issued on Sunday, the party clarified that it had not released any official list of successful candidates and urged members, stakeholders, and the public to disregard any such documents. This move comes amid growing concerns about misinformation and the potential for confusion among aspiring candidates and voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the statement by Felix Morka, the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, the party has not yet finalized the collation and verification of the primary election results. While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has opened its window for political parties to submit candidate names, the APC emphasized that the formal announcement of winners will occur through its recognized communication channels. The party also reiterated that certificates of return will be issued once the process is complete, adhering strictly to established procedures. These steps aim to ensure transparency and prevent the spread of unverified information that could undermine the legitimacy of the party’s internal selection process.
The controversy surrounding the fake list highlights broader issues related to the integrity of political processes in Nigeria. The APC’s rejection of the list underscores its commitment to maintaining control over its internal affairs and preventing external actors from influencing perceptions of its leadership. However, the incident also raises questions about the mechanisms in place to verify and disseminate information accurately within political organizations. With upcoming elections looming, the party’s insistence on official channels becomes even more critical in preserving trust among its base and the wider electorate.
Meanwhile, in a separate but related development, a coalition of human rights organizations has praised the June 20, 2026, governorship election in Ekiti State as credible, free, and fair, meeting international standards. Observers deployed across the state reported that the election was largely peaceful and transparent, with minimal instances of irregularities. The ruling APC candidate, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, emerged victorious, securing 319,224 votes compared to his closest rivals. The coalition attributed the success of the election to improved electoral technologies, such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, and the professionalism of INEC officials. They also highlighted the need for continued reforms, including provisions for special voters and enhanced voter education, to further strengthen democratic practices in the country.
The Ekiti election also sparked a notable controversy when images surfaced of the chairman of the APC in Edo State, Jarret Tenebe, allegedly wearing an INEC-accredited election observer jacket. Tenebe swiftly denied the authenticity of the image, asserting that it was artificially generated using AI. He explained that his presence in Ekiti was part of a national forum supporting APC state chairmen during off-cycle elections, rather than as an official observer. Tenebe criticized the use of AI-generated content to fabricate political narratives, warning of the dangers posed by such tactics in undermining public trust and creating unnecessary tensions.
These two distinct events—APC’s response to a fake list and the scrutiny over the Ekiti election—reflect the complex landscape of Nigerian politics, where both internal party dynamics and external factors play crucial roles in shaping public perception and electoral outcomes. As the nation prepares for the 2027 general elections, the emphasis on transparency, accuracy, and adherence to established protocols will remain vital in ensuring the legitimacy and stability of the political process. The coming months will likely see increased scrutiny on how political parties manage their internal affairs and engage with the electorate, setting the stage for a pivotal chapter in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
4 reports
Premium Times NigeriaIndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 907 days agoThe All Progressives Congress (APC), a major Nigerian political party, has officially rejected a circulated list of successful candidates from its recent primaries, calling it fake and unauthorized. Felix Morka, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, urged members and the public to ignore the list, stating that the official results would be communicated through proper channels. The APC emphasized that internal verification processes are still ongoing, and candidates will receive formal notifications and certificates of return according to standard procedures. The party also noted that they are preparing to upload candidate names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the APC's official stance without overtly criticizing or praising the party's actions. It reports on the party's denial of an unauthorized list and outlines their procedural steps without taking a clear ideological position. The framing remains neutral, focusing on factual disav
Why these scores (Factual 95 · Objective 90): Fully accurate with direct quotes and procedural details. Neutral tone with no apparent bias.
The PunchIndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 908 days agoThe All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied responsibility for a circulated list of alleged primary election winners, stating it has not released any official results and warning against relying on unauthorized publications. In a public notice signed by APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, the party emphasized that reports announcing the outcome of the primaries are false and should be disregarded. The APC clarified that successful candidates will be officially informed through recognized communication channels and that Certificates of Return will be issued according to established procedures. Members, stakeholders, and the public are urged to rely solely on official APC communications for updates on the primary election results.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual statement from the APC denying responsibility for an unauthorized list of primary election winners. It does not take a partisan stance but rather reports the official position of the party. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the party's clarification and urging,
Why these scores (Factual 95 · Objective 90): Highly factual with detailed quotes and procedural explanations. Slightly biased toward APC but remains neutral in tone.
Vanguard NigeriaIndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 908 days agoThe All Progressives Congress (APC), a major Nigerian political party, has denied the existence of an official list of candidates who won recent primaries, calling circulating versions 'fake' and 'unauthorized.' The party's National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, stated that no such list was officially released and urged the public to ignore any claims about the outcomes. He emphasized that successful candidates would be informed through official channels and that certificates of return would follow standard procedures. Meanwhile, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun accepting candidate lists from political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. Although APC has not publicly shared its list yet, internal verification processes are reportedly underway. The party aims to avoid misinformation and confusion by distancing itself from unauthorized publications.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the APC's denial of an unauthorized list of primary candidates and includes statements from both the APC and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). It does not exhibit clear bias toward either side, providing information from multiple perspectives without overtly favoring one over另一种
Why these scores (Factual 95 · Objective 90): Accurate with direct quotes and procedural details. Neutral tone with no apparent bias.
The PunchIndependentCenterFactual 90Objective 8513 days ago My picture as election observer in Ekiti election AI generated — Edo APC ChairJarret Tenebe, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, denied allegations that a viral photo showing him wearing an INEC-accredited election observer jacket during the Ekiti State governorship election was authentic. Tenebe claimed the image was artificially generated using AI and insisted he was not officially accredited as an observer by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He clarified that his presence in Ekiti was part of a forum for APC state chairmen supporting each other during off-cycle elections, rather than monitoring the process. Tenebe accused opposition figures, including former lawmaker Dino Melaye, of spreading the AI-generated image to create political drama after electoral defeats. The Ekiti election took place on June 20, 2026, with the incumbent APC governor, Biodun Oyebanji, declared the winner.
Bias read (Center): The article presents Tenebe's claim that the image was AI-generated and provides his explanation for his presence at the event. However, it does not offer additional perspectives or evidence to confirm or refute his assertion, maintaining a balanced approach by quoting Tenebe directly without taking
Why these scores (Factual 90 · Objective 85): Accurate in reporting the claim and response from APC. Slight bias in framing the AI issue as a tool of 'opposition people.'
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