By Opeyemi Adelakun
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun examining its electronic and documentary records to establish how candidates allegedly unknown to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) appeared on the party’s list for the 2027 general elections.
The investigation followed allegations by the NDC that names of individuals it neither nominated nor authorised were uploaded and published as its candidates in several State House of Assembly constituencies, particularly in Anambra State.
INEC’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, said the commission’s candidate nomination portal maintains an electronic record of activities carried out by political parties.
He said the records would make it possible to determine how and when the disputed names entered the system.
“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.
He stressed that INEC had no legal power to nominate candidates for political parties or replace candidates validly nominated by them.
“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.
According to Oketola, political parties are responsible for nominating and submitting their candidates, while INEC administers the electoral process in line with the law.
He explained that parties submit candidates’ particulars through the commission’s nomination portal using access credentials issued to them, with activities on the platform electronically recorded.
Oketola therefore said allegations that INEC officials “smuggled” candidates into the NDC’s list should be established through the commission’s records rather than speculation.
“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.
INEC asks NDC to provide evidence
The commission also urged the NDC to provide evidence and details of any officials it believes may have interfered with its candidate nomination process.
Oketola said credible allegations of misconduct against any INEC official would be investigated in accordance with established procedures.
He also clarified that INEC’s monitoring of political party primaries did not give the commission the authority to select candidates for political parties.
“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 added that disputes concerning the outcome of party primaries, appeals or subsequent attempts to alter candidates must be handled 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,” Oketola stated.
NDC alleges candidate substitution
The NDC had earlier accused INEC officials of removing candidates nominated by the party and replacing them with individuals it said were not authorised to contest on its platform.
National Chairman of the party, Moses Cleopas, alleged that at least nine names unknown to the party had been uploaded and published as its candidates in some Anambra State constituencies.
The party said the development was particularly disturbing because Anambra is the home state of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Among the names listed by the NDC as allegedly unauthorised candidates were those published for Onitsha South 1, Onitsha South 2, Orumba North, Anaocha 1, Idemili North, Njikoka 1, Nnewi South, Nnewi South 2, Ayamelum and Dunukofia constituencies.
Cleopas called on the INEC chairman to urgently investigate how the names came to be listed as NDC candidates.
«“We call on the INEC chairman to urgently and immediately cause an investigation into the matter and unravel how this came to be,” the party said.»
The NDC further alleged that similar incidents occurred in Benue and Imo states, where it claimed that authentic party candidates had been replaced with individuals it described as unauthorised candidates.
INEC, however, maintained that its institutional responsibility was to administer elections impartially and that its records would provide the basis for determining what happened.
“The Commission will neither nominate candidates for political parties nor lend itself to the imposition of candidates on any political party,” Oketola said.
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