2027: INEC probes source of ‘strange’ names in NDC list

The Independent National Electoral Commission has commenced an examination of its records to determine how names allegedly unknown to the Nigeria Democratic Congress appeared on the party’s list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The move followed allegations by the NDC that names of candidates it neither nominated nor authorised were uploaded and published as its candidates in several state House of Assembly constituencies, particularly in Anambra State.

The commission denied the allegations and said it removed candidates nominated by the party for the election and replaced them with names allegedly unknown to it.

The allegations, which particularly concern some state House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra State, were addressed by INEC’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, in a chat with news correspondents on Monday.

Responding to the allegations, Oketola stressed that INEC had no legal authority to nominate candidates for political parties or substitute its preferred candidates for those validly nominated by a political party 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,” he said.

He explained that while political parties were responsible for nominating and submitting their candidates, INEC’s role was to administer the electoral process in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and applicable regulations and guidelines.

According to him, the candidate nomination portal provided by the commission is the platform through which political parties submit the particulars of their candidates using access credentials issued for that purpose.

He added that all activities carried out on the portal were electronically recorded and could be verified through the commission’s records and audit trail.

“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 said the allegation that INEC officials introduced or “smuggled” candidates into the NDC’s list should therefore not be determined through speculation, noting that the electronic and documentary records would establish what transpired.

Oketola also clarified the distinction between INEC’s responsibility to monitor political party primaries and the responsibility of parties to nominate and submit their candidates.

He said the monitoring of a party primary by INEC officials did not amount to the commission nominating 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.

He explained that the monitoring process was undertaken for statutory purposes and did not transfer the responsibility for candidate nomination from political parties to INEC.

The INEC spokesman said disputes over who validly emerged from a political party primary, the effect of an appeal arising from the primary or the validity of any subsequent attempt to alter its outcome must be resolved within the framework of the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable laws.