RismadarVoice Reporters, August 31, 2026
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied allegations by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) that it removed candidates validly nominated by the party and replaced them with names allegedly unknown to its leadership.
The allegation, which centres largely on some State House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra State, was made by the NDC after it claimed that nine unauthorised names were uploaded and published as its candidates.
INEC’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, said the commission had no legal authority to nominate candidates for political parties or substitute candidates validly nominated 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,” Oketola said.
He explained that political parties nominate and submit their candidates through INEC’s candidate nomination portal, using access credentials provided by the commission.
According to him, all activities on the portal are electronically recorded, making it possible to trace the history and source of any candidate’s entry through INEC’s records and audit trail.
Oketola therefore said allegations that INEC officials “smuggled” candidates into the NDC’s list should be determined through documentary and electronic evidence rather than speculation.
He also clarified that INEC’s monitoring of political party primaries does not give the commission the power to select or nominate candidates.
“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.
The INEC spokesman said disputes over the validity of party primaries, appeals arising from such primaries or subsequent attempts to alter their outcomes must be resolved in accordance with the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable laws.
On the NDC’s specific claim that INEC officials obtained Form EC9 directly from aspirants and uploaded their details without the party’s authorisation, Oketola described the allegation as serious but said it could be objectively verified from the commission’s electronic and documentary records.
He urged the NDC to provide evidence and details of any INEC officials allegedly involved in unauthorised interference with its candidate nomination process, assuring that credible allegations of misconduct would be investigated.
The NDC had claimed that INEC’s alleged actions amounted to a deliberate attempt to undermine the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Among the names the party said were allegedly uploaded as its candidates are 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, Ngoebisi Obinna for Idemili North and Isintume Charles for Njikoka 1.
Others are Nwachukwu Nonso for Nnewi South, Okeke Ifeanyi Akunne for Nnewi South 2, Nnonyelu Samson E for Ayamelum and Azotani Chuks Francis for Dunukofia.
The party’s National Chairman, Moses Zuwoghe, called on the INEC Chairman to urgently investigate how the names appeared on the commission’s candidate list.
NDC also alleged that similar issues had occurred in parts of Benue and Imo states and called for the investigation to be extended to other constituencies.
INEC, however, reiterated that it has no institutional interest in determining which candidates political parties field and would administer the nomination process impartially based on its records, the Constitution, the Electoral Act and applicable regulations.
