The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied allegations by the Nigeria Democratic Congress that it removed the party’s nominated candidates for the 2027 elections and replaced them with names allegedly unknown to it.
INEC’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, said on Monday that the commission had no legal authority to nominate candidates for political parties or substitute candidates validly nominated in accordance with the law.
The NDC had accused INEC and some of its officials of uploading and publishing unauthorised names as its candidates in several State House of Assembly constituencies, particularly in Anambra State.
NDC National Chairman, Moses Zuwoghe, alleged that names not submitted or authorised by the party appeared on the commission’s list.
He described the development as particularly troubling because Anambra is the home state of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Responding, Oketola said candidate nomination remained solely the responsibility of political parties.
“For the avoidance of doubt, INEC does not nominate candidates for political parties. The nomination of candidates is the responsibility of political parties, subject to compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable laws, Regulations and Guidelines,” he said.
He explained that political parties submit candidates through INEC’s nomination portal using access credentials issued by the commission.
According to him, activities carried out on the portal are electronically recorded and can be traced through the commission’s audit trail.
“It is therefore possible to establish objectively the history and source of entries relating to any candidate whose name appears on the portal,” Oketola said.
He maintained that allegations that INEC officials “smuggled” candidates into the NDC list should be determined by electronic and documentary evidence rather than speculation.
Oketola also clarified that INEC’s statutory role in monitoring political party primaries did not give the commission authority to determine who should emerge as a party’s candidate.
“Neither does a report made by officials who monitor a primary confer upon the Commission the power to choose a candidate for the political party,” he said.
He added that disputes concerning the outcome of party primaries, appeals or subsequent attempts to alter the results must be resolved in accordance with the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable laws.
“INEC cannot assume the role of a political party in choosing its candidates, nor can it disregard applicable statutory requirements governing the nomination and submission of candidates,” Oketola said.
The NDC had also alleged that INEC officials bypassed the party by obtaining Form EC9 directly from some individuals and uploading their particulars without authorisation.
Oketola described the allegation as serious but said it could be verified from the commission’s electronic and documentary records.
“Rather than make categorical assertions on matters that can readily be established from those records, the Commission will examine the relevant records relating to the constituencies identified by the NDC,” he said.
He urged the party to provide evidence and details of any INEC officials allegedly involved in unauthorised interference, assuring that credible allegations of misconduct would be investigated.
Oketola stressed that INEC had no institutional interest in which candidates political parties fielded.
“Its responsibility is to administer the electoral process impartially and in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and applicable Regulations and Guidelines,” he said.
The commission also urged political parties to ensure that their primaries, internal appeals and candidate submissions complied with statutory requirements and prescribed timelines.
“The commission will neither nominate candidates for political parties nor lend itself to the imposition of candidates on any political party,” Oketola said.
The NDC had alleged that the disputed names included Umennaajiego Jude Ezenwa for Onitsha South 1, Akpotue Obinna Chibuike for Onitsha South 2, Nwankwo Chiemerie for Orumba North, Maduagwu Eric K for Anaocha 1 and Ngoebisi Obinna for Idemili North.
Others were Isintume Charles for Njikoka 1, Nwachukwu Nonso for Nnewi South, Okeke Ifeanyi Akunne for Nnewi South 2, Nnonyelu Samson E for Ayamelum and Azotani Chuks Francis for Dunukofia.
The party described the alleged substitutions as a deliberate attempt to sabotage it ahead of the elections and called on the INEC Chairman to investigate how the names came to be published.
It also asked the commission to extend the investigation to Benue, Imo and other states where it claimed similar discrepancies had occurred.
