The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied allegations by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) that it replaced the party’s candidates for the 2027 Anambra State House of Assembly elections.
The NDC had accused INEC of removing its nominated candidates and replacing them with “impostors” on the list of candidates published by the commission.
Moses Zuwoghe, national chairman of the NDC, alleged on Sunday that the list contained 10 “strange names” in place of the party’s nominated candidates.
However, reacting to the allegation on Monday, Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, described the claim as serious and said the commission had no legal authority to nominate candidates for political parties.
“The Commission does not possess the legal authority to select a candidate for a political party or substitute its own preferred candidate for a person validly nominated by a political party in accordance with the law,” Oketola told TheCable.
He said the responsibility for nominating candidates rests with political parties, subject to the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable laws, regulations and guidelines.
According to him, political parties submit the particulars of their candidates through INEC’s candidate nomination portal using access credentials issued to them.
Oketola said all submissions made through the portal are electronically recorded and can be verified through the commission’s records and audit trail.
He added that the records could establish the history and source of entries relating to any candidate whose name appears on the portal.
The INEC spokesperson urged the NDC to rely on the commission’s electronic and documentary records rather than speculation in determining how the names appeared on the published list.
Oketola also clarified that INEC’s responsibility to monitor political party primaries is separate from the parties’ responsibility to nominate and submit candidates.
He said monitoring a party’s primary does not amount to INEC nominating a candidate, adding that reports by officials who monitor primaries do not give the commission the power to choose candidates for political parties.
“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,” he said.
Oketola, however, said any credible allegation of misconduct against an INEC official would be investigated in accordance with established procedures.
He said the commission had no institutional interest in the choice of candidates by political parties.
The INEC spokesman also said political parties had a responsibility to ensure that their nomination processes, internal appeals, submission of candidates and use of the commission’s candidate nomination portal complied with the law and prescribed timelines.
“The Commission will neither nominate candidates for political parties nor lend itself to the imposition of candidates on any political party,” Oketola said.
He added that legitimate concerns regarding the candidate nomination process would be addressed based on the commission’s records and the applicable law.