The Independent National Electoral Commission has begun tracing the origin of controversial names published as candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress for the 2027 elections.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the development follows the claim by the party that it never submitted or authorised the individuals.
Recall that the NDC discovered that several names appeared on INEC’s published list of candidates for various House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra State, despite the party insisting that those individuals were not among those it nominated.
Rather than accept the allegation that its officials had inserted the names, INEC said it would rely on its electronic records to determine exactly how the entries were made.
Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, said the commission’s candidate nomination system keeps records of activities carried out on the platform, making it possible to establish where disputed entries originated.
“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.
The development follows a complaint from the NDC leadership that its candidates had allegedly been displaced by people who were neither selected by the party nor submitted through its authorised nomination process.
NDC National Chairman, Moses Zuwoghe, said the situation was unacceptable and demanded an immediate investigation by the electoral commission.
He questioned how the disputed names could have appeared on the official list when, according to him, the party had not uploaded them.
“I, as Chairman of the Party and custodian of the code given to the NDC for the upload of our candidates, never uploaded those names, and I unequivocally state that the party did not also upload those nine names,” Zuwoghe said.
The party identified names published for Onitsha South 1, Onitsha South 2, Orumba North, Anaocha 1, Idemili North, Njikoka 1, Nnewi South, Nnewi South 2, Ayamelum and Dunukofia as candidates it did not recognise.
The NDC argued that INEC should not have filled positions with candidates whose nomination could not be traced to the party. It said any uncertainty surrounding its submissions ought to have been resolved with the party instead of resulting in the publication of names it rejected.
Zuwoghe also claimed that the issue was not restricted to Anambra, alleging that similar concerns had emerged in Benue and Imo states.
The party chairman said the matter was especially sensitive in Anambra because the state is the home state of Peter Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, and therefore carries considerable political significance for the party ahead of the 2027 election.
The commission, however, said the allegations should be tested against documentary evidence rather than speculation.
Oketola explained that INEC’s mandate does not include selecting candidates for political parties. He said parties are responsible for their nominations, while the commission’s responsibility is to administer the electoral process within the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable 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 said political parties are provided with credentials to access the candidate nomination portal and submit the details of their nominees.
This, he explained, creates an electronic trail that can be examined whenever questions arise concerning the identity or source of a candidate submitted through the system.
Oketola said the commission was particularly concerned about the NDC’s allegation that officials may have obtained Form EC9 directly from aspirants and used the information to upload candidates without the party’s approval.
He described such an allegation as serious but said it was capable of being verified through INEC’s records.
“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.
The commission subsequently asked the NDC to provide information that could help identify any officials allegedly involved in unauthorised actions.
According to Oketola, any credible evidence of misconduct by an INEC official would be investigated through the appropriate channels.
He further sought to draw a line between INEC’s monitoring of political party primaries and the actual nomination of candidates.
The presence of commission officials at a party primary, he explained, does not give INEC the authority to determine the winner or select a candidate for the party.
“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.
Oketola said disputes arising from party primaries, appeals or attempts to change the outcome of a nomination process must be handled according to the Electoral Act and other applicable legal provisions.
“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 stated.
The commission also denied having any interest in influencing the choice of candidates presented by political parties.
Oketola said INEC’s responsibility was to provide an impartial electoral process and ensure that nominations were handled according to the law.
“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.
