By Ado Oyeyemi
The Independent National Electoral Commission has begun reviewing its records to establish how names allegedly not recognised or submitted by the Nigeria Democratic Congress appeared on the party’s list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The development followed allegations by the NDC that candidates it neither nominated nor authorised were uploaded and published as its flag bearers in several state House of Assembly constituencies, particularly in Anambra State.
The party had accused INEC of removing its duly nominated candidates and replacing them with individuals it said were unknown to the organisation.
However, the commission denied having the power to nominate candidates on behalf of political parties, insisting that the process of selecting and submitting candidates remained the responsibility of the parties.
INEC Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola
Oketola said the commission’s role was limited to administering the electoral process in line with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other relevant regulations.
“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 the details of their candidates through INEC’s electronic nomination portal using credentials issued to them by the commission.
According to him, every activity conducted on the portal is electronically captured, creating an audit trail that can be used to determine when and how a candidate’s details were entered.
Oketola said the records would therefore make it possible to establish the origin of any disputed candidate entry rather than relying on allegations or speculation.
He also dismissed any suggestion that INEC’s monitoring of party primaries gave the commission authority to determine which candidates should be presented by political parties.
He explained that INEC officials attend party primaries as part of the commission’s statutory responsibilities, adding that such monitoring did not amount to selecting candidates for the parties.
“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.
The spokesman said disagreements over the outcome of party primaries, appeals arising from such exercises or attempts to alter the results must be handled in accordance with the Electoral Act and other applicable laws.
He maintained that INEC could neither assume the responsibilities of political parties nor disregard the legal requirements governing the nomination and submission of candidates.
Reacting specifically to the NDC’s allegation that INEC officials obtained Form EC9 directly from individual aspirants and subsequently uploaded their details without the party’s approval, Oketola described the claim as serious.
He, however, said the allegation could be verified through 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.
Oketola urged the NDC to submit evidence and provide details of any INEC officials it believed were involved in alleged unauthorised interference with its candidate nomination process.
He assured that credible allegations of misconduct against commission officials would be investigated in line with established procedures.
The spokesman further stressed that INEC had no interest in determining which candidates any political party should field, saying its responsibility was to conduct the electoral process impartially.
He also urged political parties to ensure that their primaries, internal appeals, candidate submissions and use of the nomination portal complied with the law and prescribed deadlines.
The development followed a post by the NDC on X, where the party alleged that nine individuals it did not recognise had been published as its candidates in some Anambra State House of Assembly constituencies.
The party’s National Chairman, Moses Cleopas, said the development was particularly troubling because Anambra is the home state of the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The party listed the affected constituencies and candidates as Onitsha South 1, Umennaajiego Jude Ezenwa; Onitsha South 2, Akpotue Obinna Chibuike; Orumba North, Nwankwo Chiemerie; Anaocha 1, Maduagwu Eric K; Idemili North, Ngoebisi Obinna; Njikoka 1, Isintume Charles; Nnewi South, Nwachukwu Nonso; Nnewi South 2, Okeke Ifeanyi Akunne; Ayamelum, Nnonyelu Samson E; and Dunukofia, Azotani Chuks Francis.
Cleopas called on the INEC chairman to order an immediate investigation into the matter and establish how the names were published as candidates of the party.
The NDC also claimed that similar incidents had occurred in other parts of the country, including Benue and Imo states, where it alleged that its legitimate candidates were replaced with individuals it described as unauthorised.
INEC has now indicated that its electronic and documentary records will be examined to establish what transpired in the affected constituencies.
