The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of replacing candidates nominated by the party for the 2027 general elections with names it described as unauthorised.
The party alleged that 10 names published by INEC as its candidates for various State House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra State did not emerge from its nomination process and were neither submitted nor authorised by the party.
The allegation was contained in a statement issued by the NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, following the publication of INEC’s candidate list for the 2027 elections.
Zuwoghe described the development as disturbing, particularly because Anambra State is the home state of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
He alleged that the disputed names were uploaded to the INEC candidate nomination portal despite the party having submitted the names of its duly nominated candidates after the conclusion of its primaries and appeals process.
According to him, the party’s final list was produced and endorsed by relevant stakeholders, including representatives of Obi and members of the appeals panel, before being uploaded to the INEC portal using the access credentials issued to the party.
However, Zuwoghe alleged that 10 of the party’s nominees were left on “pending” status while names submitted by officials who monitored the party’s primaries appeared on the commission’s platform.
He said the party subsequently challenged the entries and submitted the names of its authentic candidates, together with the required covering letter, but alleged that INEC failed to make the necessary corrections.
The NDC chairman further alleged that INEC officials bypassed the party and obtained Form EC9 directly from the disputed aspirants before uploading their details as candidates of the NDC.
“This not only runs against the grain of the Electoral Act and INEC’s own guidelines, it is simply unacceptable,” he said.
The disputed names listed by the party are Umennaajiego Jude Ezenwa for Onitsha South I; Akpotue Obinna Chibuike for Onitsha South II; Nwankwo Chiemerie for Orumba North; Maduagwu Eric K. for Anaocha I; Ngoebisi Obinna for Idemili North; Isintume Charles for Njikoka I; Nwachukwu Nonso and Okeke Ifeanyi Akunne for Nnewi South; Nnonyelu Samson E. for Ayamelum; and Azotani Chuks Francis for Dunukofia.
Zuwoghe called on the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to urgently investigate how the names found their way onto the commission’s candidate list.
He also demanded that the investigation be extended to other states, particularly Benue and Imo, where he claimed the party had observed similar developments.
The NDC chairman said the alleged substitution had embarrassed the party, its leadership and genuine candidates, while creating disaffection among its supporters in Nigeria and the diaspora.
He added that the party was conducting its own investigation and that its preliminary findings allegedly pointed to the involvement of some INEC officials in the process.
INEC Denies Allegation
Reacting to the allegation, INEC said it had no legal authority to nominate candidates for political parties or replace candidates validly nominated by them.
The commission’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, said the responsibility for candidate nomination rested with political parties, subject to the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable regulations.
“For the avoidance of doubt, INEC does not nominate candidates for political parties,” Oketola said.
He explained that political parties were responsible for nominating and submitting their candidates through the commission’s candidate nomination portal, using access credentials provided to them.
According to him, activities conducted on the portal are electronically recorded, making it possible to trace the history and source of entries relating to candidates published by the commission.
Oketola said the allegation that INEC officials “smuggled” candidates into the NDC’s list should therefore be determined through the commission’s electronic and documentary records rather than speculation.
He also clarified that INEC’s monitoring of political party primaries did not give the commission the power to select candidates for the parties.
He said any dispute over the outcome of a party primary, appeals arising from the process or subsequent changes to candidates must be resolved in line with the Electoral Act and other applicable laws.
On the specific allegation that INEC officials obtained Form EC9 directly from individual aspirants and uploaded their details without the party’s approval, Oketola described the claim as serious but said it could be verified from the commission’s records.
He urged the NDC to provide details and evidence of any INEC officials allegedly involved in unauthorised interference with its nomination process.
Oketola assured political parties and other stakeholders that the commission would continue to administer the candidate nomination process transparently and impartially.
“The commission will neither nominate candidates for political parties nor lend itself to the imposition of candidates on any political party,” he said.