BY: Abdulraheem Muhammed
Claim:
A viral circular claimed that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) cancelled the 2025 English Language paper due to widespread examination malpractice.
Verdict:
False! WAEC has officially debunked the rumour, confirming that the English Language examination was not cancelled and that the circulating press release is fake.
Full Text:
On Friday, May 30, 2025, a press release allegedly from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) began circulating online. The circular, which appeared to be signed by WAEC’s Head of National Office, claimed that the 2025 English Language examination had been cancelled due to a high level of examination malpractice, including reports of late-night sitting of the paper.
The message, shared widely across social media platforms and some blogs, quickly caused confusion and concern among students, parents, and educators. The statement also claimed that a new date for the examination would be announced later.
But how true is this claim?
Verification:
FactCheckAfrica investigated the authenticity of the viral circular and found it to be entirely fabricated.
In a statement released by WAEC and signed by Moyosola Adesina, the Acting Head of Public Affairs at WAEC’s Yaba office in Lagos, the council categorically denied cancelling the English Language examination. The statement clarified that the purported press release did not originate from WAEC and should be disregarded by the public.
“The management of the West African Examinations Council would like to state that the press release being circulated did not emanate from the Council. The said examination has not been cancelled,” the official statement read.
WAEC further described the incident as the work of “mischief-makers” trying to undermine the council’s reputation and cause unnecessary panic among candidates.
Multiple reputable media outlets, including Punch Newspapers and Daily Sun, also reported on the misinformation. In an interview with Daily Sun, Dr. Amos Dangut, WAEC’s Head of National Office (HNO), dismissed the rumour as false and emphasized that no such cancellation ever occurred.
Conclusion:
The claim that WAEC cancelled the 2025 English Language examination due to malpractice is false. WAEC has issued an official statement debunking the fake circular and reaffirming that the examination was conducted as scheduled. The public is advised to rely on verified sources and official WAEC channels for information to avoid falling for misinformation designed to cause panic
