WAEC Cancels Entire Results Of 861 Candidates Over Mobile Phone Possession

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has cancelled the entire results of 861 candidates who sat the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) after they were found in possession of mobile phones in examination halls.

WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, confirmed the decision, stating that regulations prohibit candidates from having mobile phones in exam halls regardless of whether the devices were used. 

“The rule is that once you have a mobile phone, your results are cancelled,” he said.

The cancellations form part of broader sanctions following investigations into examination malpractices. Subject results of 7,434 candidates were cancelled for bringing unauthorised materials such as prepared notes, textbooks and printed documents into the halls. 

Results of an additional 270 candidates have been withheld pending further investigations.

Provisional results for the 2026 WASSCE, which saw 512,862 candidates from 1,022 schools register, were released recently. WAEC has advised affected candidates to check the examination irregularities portal for details on their individual cases.

The council expressed ongoing concern about candidates continuing to smuggle phones into exam halls despite repeated instructions to supervisors and invigilators to conduct thorough searches.