Examination Council Says Malpractice Cases Decline as More Than 1.2 Million Candidates Secure Five Credits .webp "WAEC Withholds Results of 167,486 Candidates Over Alleged Examination Malpractice")
.webp "WAEC Withholds Results of 167,486 Candidates Over Alleged Examination Malpractice")
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 withheld results represent 8.59 per cent of the 1,950,726 candidates who participated in the examination, a decline from the 9.7 per cent recorded in the 2025 WASSCE, indicating a modest reduction in reported malpractice cases.
Results Released
Announcing the 2026 WASSCE results in Lagos, the Head of WAEC's Nigeria National Office, Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut, said the council had successfully processed and released the results of 1,834,695 candidates, representing 94.05 per cent of those who sat the examination.
He added that the results of 116,031 candidates are still being processed due to various issues unrelated to the malpractice cases and will be released once the process is completed.
More Than 1.2 Million Meet Benchmark
WAEC disclosed that 1,200,514 candidates, representing 61.54 per cent of those who sat the examination, obtained at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, the minimum academic requirement for admission into many tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
The council also noted that female candidates slightly outperformed their male counterparts among those who achieved the benchmark grades.
Nature of the Malpractice
According to WAEC, the alleged malpractice cases involved offences such as the use of mobile phones during examinations, organised cheating and other violations of examination regulations.
The council emphasised that the affected results remain under investigation and that candidates found innocent after the review process could have their results released. Those confirmed to have violated examination rules may have their results cancelled.
Support for Affected Candidates
WAEC advised candidates whose results have been withheld to await further communication regarding the investigation process.
The council operates an official complaints and representation portal through which affected candidates can view notices relating to alleged malpractice and submit their responses for consideration.
Commitment to Examination Integrity
Dr. Dangut said the 2026 examination was the second computer-based WASSCE for school candidates and featured enhanced security measures designed to strengthen examination integrity while improving the speed of result processing.
He reaffirmed WAEC's commitment to conducting credible examinations and ensuring that certificates issued by the council maintain internationally recognised standards.