The Independent National Electoral Commission has denied reports that it has commenced recruitment of ad-hoc staff for the 2027 general elections, warning Nigerians against a fake recruitment website currently circulating online.

The Commission issued the warning on Monday after a recruitment message claiming that INEC was seeking 266 ad-hoc staff across the country gained attention on social media and messaging platforms.

The message reportedly invited applicants to apply for temporary positions to support the Commission’s electoral activities and directed them to a website to complete the supposed recruitment process.

INEC, however, said the recruitment notice and the website did not originate from the Commission and were not authorised by it.

The electoral body urged members of the public to disregard the message and avoid submitting their personal information or other documents through the fraudulent platform.

INEC also warned prospective applicants against making payments or following unauthorised links in the hope of securing ad-hoc positions for the 2027 elections.

The Commission said genuine recruitment of ad-hoc election personnel is conducted through its official INECPRES platform and that any recruitment announcement would be communicated through its established official channels.

INEC’s official website currently provides information on its INECPRES ad-hoc staff recruitment platform, including categories such as Supervisory Presiding Officers, Presiding Officers, Assistant Presiding Officers and Registration Area Centre Managers.

The latest warning comes amid growing interest in temporary election jobs as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue, creating an opportunity for fraudsters to target job seekers with fake recruitment offers.

Similar fraudulent recruitment messages have circulated in the past. In January 2026, INEC warned Nigerians against a fake website advertising ad-hoc staff recruitment, while fact-checkers also identified a separate viral recruitment message as false after confirming that the associated website was not an official INEC platform.

INEC has therefore advised Nigerians to verify recruitment information before responding to any online advert purportedly issued by the Commission.

The electoral body reiterated that members of the public should rely on its official website and verified social media platforms for authentic information concerning election preparations, recruitment and other activities.

The Commission’s warning is particularly important as scammers may exploit the high demand for election-related employment to obtain applicants’ personal details or money through fraudulent platforms.

INEC urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and to report suspicious recruitment messages rather than sharing them with others.

The Commission said any genuine announcement concerning the recruitment of ad-hoc staff for the 2027 general elections would be officially communicated through its recognised channels.