August 31, 2026 | Politics
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed allegations by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) that it replaced the party’s candidates for the 2027 general elections with names allegedly unknown to the party.
The NDC had accused INEC of uploading and publishing what it described as unauthorised candidates for several Anambra State House of Assembly constituencies.
The party’s National Chairman, Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, reportedly claimed that 10 names published by the electoral commission were neither submitted nor approved by the party.
However, INEC said it has no authority to nominate candidates for political parties or replace candidates who have been validly nominated.
INEC Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Commission’s Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, made the clarification while speaking with The PUNCH on Monday.
Oketola explained that the responsibility for selecting and nominating candidates rests with political parties, subject to compliance with Nigeria’s Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable regulations and guidelines.
He said political parties submit their candidates through INEC’s nomination portal using credentials issued to them by the commission.
According to him, activities carried out on the portal are electronically recorded, making it possible for the commission to trace and verify the history and source of candidate entries.
INEC also rejected any suggestion that its officials monitoring political party primaries have the power to select candidates.
The commission maintained that monitoring a party primary does not give INEC the authority to determine who represents the party in an election.
Regarding the NDC’s allegation that INEC obtained Form EC9 directly from disputed candidates and uploaded their information without the party’s approval, Oketola said the matter could be established by examining the commission’s official records.
He urged the NDC to provide specific evidence and details of any INEC officials it believes may have been involved in wrongdoing.
Oketola assured the party that credible allegations of misconduct would be investigated.
He further stressed that INEC had no interest in determining which candidates political parties choose to field.
The commission, he said, would neither nominate candidates for political parties nor facilitate the imposition of candidates on any party.
The NDC had earlier described the alleged substitution of its candidates as a deliberate attempt to undermine the party ahead of the 2027 elections and create dissatisfaction among its supporters.
With the two sides presenting different accounts, attention is now focused on the official nomination records and electronic trail that INEC says can establish how the disputed names appeared on its platform.
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