The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied allegations by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) that it removed the party’s candidates for the 2027 general elections and replaced them with “strange names unknown to the party.”
The commission said it neither has the power nor the authority to nominate candidates for political parties or substitute candidates validly nominated by them.
INEC’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, made the clarification in an interview with The PUNCH on Monday while responding to allegations raised by the NDC over the publication of candidates for several Anambra State House of Assembly constituencies.
The NDC had accused INEC officials of uploading and publishing unauthorised candidates in some constituencies across Anambra State, alleging that the names were not submitted or approved by the party.
The party’s National Chairman, Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, claimed that 10 names published by INEC as the party’s candidates were “strange names” and were neither nominated nor authorised by the NDC.
The party subsequently described the alleged replacement as “a deliberate plot to sabotage the NDC ahead of the general elections and cause dissatisfaction among its millions of supporters.”
However, INEC rejected the allegation, insisting that the responsibility for nominating candidates rests squarely with political parties, subject to compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable laws, regulations and guidelines.
Oketola said, “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 explained that political parties submit their candidates through the commission’s nomination portal using credentials issued to the respective parties.
According to him, activities carried out on the platform are electronically recorded, making it possible for INEC to establish how and from where entries relating to candidates appearing on the portal originated.
“It is therefore possible to establish objectively the history and source of entries relating to any candidate whose name appears on the portal,” Oketola said.
The commission’s spokesperson also dismissed any suggestion that INEC’s involvement in monitoring party primaries gives it the authority to determine which candidate should represent a political party.
He stressed that monitoring a primary election does not amount to selecting or imposing a candidate on 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.
Oketola further addressed the NDC’s specific allegation that INEC obtained Form EC9 directly from some disputed candidates and subsequently uploaded their details without the authorisation of the party.
Rather than accepting or dismissing the allegation outright, he said the commission would examine its records to establish what actually happened in the affected constituencies.
“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 provide specific evidence and details of any INEC officials it believed were involved in the alleged misconduct.
Oketola said credible allegations supported by evidence would be investigated by the commission.
He maintained that INEC had no interest in determining which candidates political parties choose to field in the elections, insisting that the commission’s responsibility was to administer the electoral process in accordance with the law.
“The commission will neither nominate candidates for political parties nor lend itself to the imposition of candidates on any political party,” he said.
The development has therefore left the dispute centred on the source and authenticity of the candidate entries published by INEC, with the commission maintaining that its electronic records can establish who submitted the disputed names and through what process.
While the NDC insists that several candidates published for Anambra State constituencies were not authorised by the party, INEC has challenged the party to provide evidence capable of identifying any official who may have unlawfully interfered with the nomination process.
The commission’s position effectively places the focus on its nomination portal records and other documentation relating to the affected constituencies, which it says can be examined to determine whether the disputed names were submitted through authorised party channels or entered through any unauthorised process.