The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed allegations by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) that it removed the party’s duly nominated candidates for some State House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra and Benue States and replaced them with unauthorised names.
INEC described the allegations as unfounded, insisting that it has no legal power to select, insert or substitute candidates for political parties.
In a statement signed by the Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the Commission said candidate nomination remains the exclusive responsibility of political parties under the law.
INEC explained that although it monitors party primaries as part of its statutory responsibilities, such oversight does not give the Commission the authority to determine who a party presents for election.
The Commission said that ahead of the 2027 general elections, all 22 registered political parties designated two technically trained officers to manage their candidate nomination processes after undergoing training organised by INEC.
According to the Commission, portal access codes were issued directly to the National Chairmen of the respective parties and not through proxies.
It added that candidate lists were generated from submissions made by the political parties and jointly signed by their National Chairmen and National Secretaries through the relevant Form EC9 series.
INEC further stated that it has in its possession Form EC9E, containing the names of the candidates in question as submitted and duly signed by the NDC’s National Chairman and National Secretary.
The Commission therefore maintained that any claim that it independently uploaded, altered or substituted the party’s candidate information is untrue.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and ensuring a level playing field for all political parties and stakeholders in the electoral process.