By Paul Joseph
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of allegedly removing candidates nominated by the party for the 2027 general elections and replacing them with persons it said were unknown to its leadership.
The party raised the alarm following the publication of candidates for the State Houses of Assembly elections, alleging that several names listed by the electoral body did not originate from its nomination process.
NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, described the development as a deliberate attempt to undermine the party and create confusion among its supporters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement on Sunday, Zuwoghe alleged that the controversy was particularly evident in Anambra State, where the party claimed that several persons listed as its candidates were neither nominated nor authorised by the NDC.
“The Nigeria Democratic Congress totally condemns the action of the Independent National Electoral Commission and its officials over the uploading and publication of unauthorised names in various constituencies,” the party said.
According to the NDC chairman, the party discovered what it described as questionable names in several State House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra State.
The party listed the affected constituencies and names as:
- Onitsha South I – Umennaajiego Jude Ezenwa
- Onitsha South II – Akpotue Obinna Chibuike
- Orumba North – Nwankwo Chiemerie
- Anaocha I – Maduagwu Eric K
- Idemili North – Ngoebisi Obinna
- Njikoka I – Isintume Charles
- Nnewi South I – Nwachukwu Nonso
- Nnewi South II – Okeke Ifeanyi Akunne
- Ayamelum – Nnonyelu Samson E.
- Dunukofia – Azotani Chuks Francis
Zuwoghe insisted that neither he nor the party uploaded the disputed names to the INEC candidate nomination portal.
He said the controversy arose after the party concluded its primaries and appeal process, following which stakeholders and party leaders reportedly agreed on a final list of candidates.
According to him, when the final list was submitted through the party’s access code on the INEC portal, some names were allegedly left on “pending” status.
The NDC chairman claimed that INEC officials informed the party that their system already contained different names allegedly submitted by officials who monitored the party’s primaries.
He said the party subsequently lodged a formal appeal and submitted the names of candidates it recognised as authentic, accompanied by the necessary documentation.
However, he alleged that the electoral commission maintained its position and eventually published the disputed names.
The NDC also alleged that similar issues could exist in other states, including Benue and Imo, and called on the INEC chairman to immediately order a comprehensive investigation.
“The party said the investigation should also be extended to other constituencies nationwide, where the NDC had observed a pattern of fencing out authentic candidates of the party,” the statement said.
Zuwoghe further alleged that the controversy had caused embarrassment to the party and dissatisfaction among its supporters in Nigeria and the diaspora.
He said the party had commenced its own investigation, with preliminary findings, according to him, raising concerns about possible involvement by some electoral officials.
The NDC chairman argued that where there was a disagreement between names submitted by a political party and those allegedly obtained by electoral officials during the monitoring of party primaries, the electoral body should leave the affected position vacant rather than impose candidates on the party.
“At the very worst, INEC could have left us with no candidates for those positions, if they knew they were unwilling to engage us in addressing any perceived anomaly,” he said.
Zuwoghe said the party would pursue the matter through all available legal channels and approach a court of competent jurisdiction to seek redress.
He urged members of the public and supporters of the party to disregard the disputed names, insisting that they were not the authentic candidates nominated by the NDC.
The party maintained that it would continue to press for what it described as the restoration of its duly nominated candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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