CLAIM: An X user claimed (archived here) that INEC had substituted the names of polling officers and ad hoc staff in Egbedore, Atakumosa East and West, with those of people who were neither trained nor shortlisted.
Similar claims were found on Facebook here and here.
FINDINGS: To verify the claim, the Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition (NFC) contacted on-ground observers from the Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID). In Atakumosa East, an observer shared with the NFC photographs showing instances where the names of electoral officials had reportedly been replaced. In Atakumosa West, an observer said that the names displayed publicly by INEC did not match those of officials trained by the commission, adding that most trainees could not find their names on their list.
However, an observer in Egbedore told the NFC that the names of INEC’s ad hoc staff and polling officers had not been changed for the area.
The NFC contacted INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Osun State, Oluwatoyin Babalola, about the situation, and she stated that INEC properly collated the names of its ad hoc staff. However, the number of people that were trained exceeds the number of workforce needed to handle the election.
VERDICT: PARTLY CORRECT
SOURCES: CJID Observers, INEC’s REC for Osun State.
DATE: 14/8/2026
AUTHOR: Cole Praise
EDITOR(S): MOTUNRAYO JOEL AND OPEYEMI KEHINDE