Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected allegations by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) that it removed some of the party’s candidates for the 2027 general elections and replaced them with names unknown to the party.
The controversy centres particularly on some State House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra State, where the NDC alleged that candidates it nominated were supplanted on the list published by the electoral commission.
Reacting to the allegation, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, told newsmen that the commission has no role in nominating candidates for political parties.
According to him, candidate nomination remains the responsibility of political parties, provided they comply with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other relevant laws, regulations and guidelines.
Oketola described as particularly serious the NDC’s allegation that some INEC officials allegedly bypassed the party and obtained Form EC9 directly from individual aspirants or candidates before uploading their details without the party’s authorisation.
He challenged the NDC to substantiate the allegation by providing evidence linking any INEC official to such unauthorised interference in the party’s candidate nomination process.
The commission also asked the NDC to provide the identities and other relevant particulars of any officials it believes were involved in the alleged misconduct.
INEC said it would investigate any credible complaint against its officials in line with established procedures.
The commission maintained that while political parties are responsible for presenting their candidates, INEC’s role is to receive and publish nominations in accordance with the law and applicable electoral guidelines.
The development comes after the NDC accused the electoral commission of systematically removing candidates submitted by the party for the 2027 elections and substituting them with names allegedly unfamiliar to its leadership.
