Isaac Samuel
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have clashed over the alleged replacement of the party’s candidates for the 2027 Anambra State House of Assembly election.
The NDC had accused INEC of removing 10 candidates it claimed to have nominated and replacing them with names allegedly unknown to the party.
But INEC rejected the allegation, insisting that it does not nominate candidates for political parties and has no legal authority to impose or substitute candidates.
The commission’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, disclosed this in a chat while responding to the allegations.
Oketola said the responsibility for nominating candidates rests with political parties, subject to compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable laws, regulations and guidelines.
“For the avoidance of doubt, INEC does not nominate candidates for political parties,” he said.
He added that the commission does not possess the legal authority to select a candidate for a political party or substitute its own preferred candidate for a person validly nominated by a political party in accordance with the law.
The NDC had alleged that the list of candidates published by INEC contained 10 “strange names” in various Anambra State constituencies.
The party’s National Chairman, Moses Zuwoghe, alleged that the names were not authorised or submitted by the NDC and accused INEC officials of “smuggling” them into the party’s list.
Among the names listed by the party were 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 are 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.
Zuwoghe said he was the custodian of the access code provided to the party for uploading its candidates and insisted that he did not upload the disputed names.
He called on the INEC Chairman to investigate the matter and extend the probe to other states, including Benue and Imo, where he alleged a similar pattern had occurred.
Responding, however, Oketola said activities carried out through INEC’s candidate nomination portal were electronically recorded and could be verified from 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,” he said.
He said the allegation that INEC officials introduced or “smuggled” candidates into the NDC’s list should therefore not be determined through speculation.
“The electronic and documentary records relating to the affected constituencies are capable of establishing the relevant facts,” he said.
Oketola also addressed the NDC’s allegation that INEC officials obtained Form EC9 directly from individual aspirants or candidates and subsequently uploaded their particulars without the party’s authority.
He described the allegation as “particularly serious”, but said it could be objectively 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.
He urged the NDC to submit any evidence implicating INEC officials in unauthorised interference with its candidate nomination process.
“If the party has evidence implicating any official of the Commission in any unauthorised interference with its candidate nomination process, it should make such evidence and the particulars of the officials concerned available to the Commission,” he said.
According to him, any credible allegation of misconduct by an INEC official would be investigated in accordance with established procedures.
The commission also clarified that its monitoring of political party primaries does not amount to nominating candidates for the parties.
Oketola said reports prepared by INEC officials who monitor party primaries do not confer on the commission the power to choose candidates for political parties.
He said where disputes arise over who emerged from a party primary, the effect of an appeal or any subsequent attempt to alter the outcome of the nomination process, such issues must be resolved within the framework of 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,” he said.
Oketola further said INEC had no institutional interest in the choice of candidates made by political parties, stressing that its responsibility was to administer the electoral process impartially and in accordance with the law.
He also reminded political parties of their responsibility to ensure that their nomination processes, internal appeals, submission of candidates and use of the commission’s candidate nomination portal complied with the law and prescribed timelines.
He said INEC would continue to address legitimate concerns surrounding the candidate nomination process on the basis of its records and the applicable law.
“The Commission will neither nominate candidates for political parties nor lend itself to the imposition of candidates on any political party,” Oketola said.
