The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced an investigation of its records to determine how names allegedly unknown to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) appeared on the party’s list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The move followed complaints by the NDC that the names of candidates it had neither nominated nor authorized were uploaded and published as its candidates in various state House of Assembly constituencies, particularly in Anambra State.
The commission refuted the charges, claiming that it eliminated candidates selected by the party for the election and replaced them with names reportedly unknown to it.
The claims, which specifically concern some state House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra State, were addressed by INEC’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola.
Speaking on the allegations, Oketola stressed that INEC had no legal authority to nominate candidates for political parties or substitute its preferred candidates for those validly nominated by a political party in accordance with the law.
“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 stated that while political parties were responsible for nominating and submitting their candidates, INEC’s role was to administer the electoral process in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and applicable regulations and guidelines.
According to him, the commission’s candidate nomination site serves as a platform for political parties to submit candidate information using access credentials supplied specifically for that purpose.
He further stated that all operations taken out on the portal were electronically recorded and could be validated using the commission’s records and 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 stated.
He stated that the claim that INEC personnel introduced or “smuggled” candidates onto the NDC’s list should not be determined by guesswork, saying that electronic and documentary records will reveal what happened.
Oketola further underlined the contrast between INEC’s role in monitoring political party primaries and parties’ responsibilities to select and submit candidates.
He stated that INEC personnel’ surveillance of a party primary did not imply that the commission nominated a candidate for the party.
“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 clarified that the monitoring process was carried out for statutory purposes and did not transfer responsibility for candidate nomination from political parties to INEC.
According to the INEC spokesman, issues about who lawfully emerged from a political party primary, the effect of an appeal originating from the primary, and the validity of any later attempt to change the decision must be decided within the context of the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable legislation.
“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,” he stated.
On the NDC’s specific allegation that INEC staff went behind the party’s back to get Form EC9 directly from individual aspirants or candidates and then submitted their information without the party’s permission, Oketola termed it as extremely worrisome.
He said, however, that the charge could be objectively validated using the commission’s technological 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 stated.
Oketola urged the NDC to provide the panel with evidence and information about any officials allegedly interfering with the candidate nomination process.
He stated that any credible complaint of misconduct against an INEC officer would be investigated in accordance with the existing procedures.
He emphasized that the commission had no institutional interest in selecting candidates from any political party.
“Its responsibility is to administer the electoral process impartially and in accordance with the constitution, the Electoral Act, and applicable regulations and guidelines,” he declared.
Oketola also reminded political parties of their responsibility to make sure that their nomination processes, internal appeals, candidate submissions, and use of the commission’s candidate nomination portal followed the law and the mandated timelines.
He assured stakeholders that INEC would continue to conduct the candidate nomination process in a transparent and unbiased manner and that legitimate concerns would be addressed based on the commission’s records and applicable law.
“The Commission will neither nominate candidates for political parties nor lend itself to the imposition of candidates on any political party,” Oketola stated.
In a previous post on X, formerly Twitter, the NDC accused INEC and its officials of uploading and publishing unauthorized names in various Anambra State constituencies.
According to the party, nine names unknown to it and not authorized or submitted to INEC were uploaded and published as candidates for several constituencies in the Anambra State House of Assembly.
The NDC National Chairman, Moses Cleopas, said the news was especially concerning because Anambra is the home state of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The party claimed that INEC had systematically withdrawn its nominated candidates for the 2027 general elections and replaced them with names not recognized by the party. The names listed by the NDC as having been allegedly smuggled into its candidate list include: 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; Dunukofia — Azotani Chuks Francis.
The statement, signed by Cleopas, urged the INEC chairman to investigate the matter and determine how the names were published as party candidates.
“We call on the INEC chairman to urgently and immediately cause an investigation into the matter and unravel how this came to be,” it stated.
The NDC said the probe should also cover other seats across the country, including Benue and Imo states, where it claimed to have observed a similar trend of real party candidates being substituted with what it characterized as INEC-chosen imposters.
