What candidates should do if their 2026 WASSCE results are withheld

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has withheld the results of 167,486 candidates who sat the 2026 Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates over alleged examination malpractice.

The affected candidates account for 8.59 per cent of the 1,950,726 students who participated in the examination, representing a drop from the 9.7 per cent recorded in 2025.

Announcing the release of the results in Lagos on Wednesday, the Head of WAEC’s Nigeria National Office, Dr Amos Dangut, attributed the withheld results to alleged examination malpractice, including the use of mobile phones in examination halls and organised cheating in some schools.

He also disclosed that supervisors and invigilators found aiding candidates had been apprehended and would face disciplinary measures through the appropriate state ministries of education.

According to information published by WAEC, a withheld result does not amount to a cancellation. Rather, it indicates that the result is under investigation, with the Nigeria Examinations Committee expected to determine the final outcome after reviewing each case.

Candidates whose results have been withheld are advised to remain calm and avoid assuming that their results have been cancelled.

WAEC recommends that affected school candidates immediately contact their principals or examination officers, who can provide official information and assist with any required representations.

The council also advised candidates to visit its official Notice of Examinations Malpractice portal, where they can check the reason for the investigation, where applicable, and submit a defence or representation for consideration.

Candidates are encouraged to monitor the portal regularly, particularly within four weeks after the release of the results, for updates on their cases.

WAEC further urged candidates and parents to rely only on information released through its official website, verified social media platforms and accredited offices.

The examination body warned against dealing with agents or individuals who claim they can secure the release or upgrade of withheld results in exchange for money, describing such offers as fraudulent.

It explained that investigations may take several weeks or even months, depending on the complexity of each case. Candidates cleared of wrongdoing will have their results released, while confirmed cases of malpractice may result in the cancellation of individual subjects or the entire examination.

The council also noted that candidates with withheld results may still apply for admission into tertiary institutions using an “awaiting result” status where applicable, although the final result will be required during the admission process.

In addition, WAEC stated that results belonging to candidates sponsored by state governments indebted to the council may remain unreleased until the outstanding financial obligations are settled.

The council advised candidates and parents to disregard unverified lists or letters circulating online claiming that particular schools’ results had been withheld, urging them to seek information only from official WAEC sources.