RismadarVoice Reporters, August 31, 2026
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has challenged the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to provide credible evidence to support its allegation that unknown candidates were allegedly “smuggled” into the party’s list for some State House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC said it was prepared to examine the allegations if the party provides relevant evidence and details of any officials allegedly involved in the process.
The Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, Dayo Oketola, stated this in an interview with journalists on Monday.
Oketola said the Commission would not make speculative claims on an issue that could be objectively verified through its electronic and documentary records.
He urged the NDC to submit any evidence of alleged unauthorised interference by INEC officials in the party’s candidate nomination process.
“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.
“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.
Oketola stressed that INEC does not have the authority to nominate or substitute candidates for political parties, explaining that candidate nomination remains the responsibility of political parties, subject to the Constitution, Electoral Act 2026 and relevant regulations.
“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 added that the Commission had no legal authority to select candidates for political parties or replace a candidate validly nominated by a party in accordance with the law.
According to him, the candidate nomination portal provides political parties with access credentials through which they submit candidates’ particulars.
He said the system generates electronic records and an audit trail capable of showing the history and source of entries made on the platform.
Oketola therefore described the allegation that INEC officials obtained Form EC9 directly from aspirants and uploaded their details without the party’s authorisation as a serious claim that could nevertheless be verified.
“Such an allegation is capable of objective verification from the Commission’s electronic and documentary records,” he said.
The INEC spokesperson also clarified that the Commission’s statutory responsibility to monitor political party primaries does not give it the power to select candidates for parties.
“The Commission’s monitoring of a political party primary does not amount to nomination of a candidate by INEC. 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 explained that disputes over the outcome of party primaries, including questions about who validly emerged as a candidate or the effect of appeals arising from such processes, must be addressed within the framework of the Electoral Act 2026.
Oketola maintained that INEC had no institutional interest in which candidates political parties choose to field.
“It is important, however, to emphasise that the Commission has no institutional interest in the choice of candidate made by 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 said.
He added that political parties were responsible for ensuring that their nomination processes, internal appeals and use of the Commission’s candidate nomination portal complied with the law and prescribed timelines.
Oketola assured that any credible allegation of misconduct involving an INEC official would be investigated.
He reiterated that the Commission would not nominate candidates for political parties or support the imposition of candidates on any party.
“The Commission will neither nominate candidates for political parties nor lend itself to the imposition of candidates on any political party,” he said.
