The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) have clashed over the authenticity of a list of 10 candidates published for some State House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The dispute followed allegations by the NDC that INEC had removed candidates validly nominated by the party and replaced them with individuals the party neither nominated nor authorised.

The party, through its National Chairman, Moses Zuwoghe, alleged that 10 names had been uploaded and published as its candidates for various constituencies in Anambra, describing the development as a deliberate attempt to undermine the party ahead of the election.

The affected constituencies, according to the NDC, include Onitsha South 1, Onitsha South 2, Orumba North, Anaocha 1, Idemili North, Njikoka 1, Nnewi South, Nnewi South 2, Ayamelum and Dunukofia.

The names listed by the party are Umennaajiego Jude Ezenwa for Onitsha South 1; Akpotue Obinna Chibuike for Onitsha South 2; Nwankwo Chiemerie for Orumba North; Maduagwu Eric K for Anaocha 1; Ngoebisi Obinna for Idemili North; Isintume Charles for Njikoka 1; Nwachukwu Nonso for Nnewi South; Okeke Ifeanyi Akunne for Nnewi South 2; Nnonyelu Samson E for Ayamelum; and Azotani Chuks Francis for Dunukofia.

Zuwoghe said the alleged substitution was particularly troubling because Anambra is the home state of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

The party had, in a statement and post on X, accused INEC officials of “smuggling” unauthorised candidates into its nomination records and publishing them as the party’s representatives.

It demanded an immediate investigation by the INEC Chairman to establish how the names found their way into the commission’s records.

The NDC further claimed that similar incidents had been observed in other states, including Benue and Imo, alleging that genuine candidates had been replaced with individuals it described as “INEC-chosen imposters.”

But INEC, through its Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, rejected the allegation, insisting that the commission had neither the legal authority nor the institutional mandate to nominate candidates for political parties.

Oketola said candidate nomination remained the responsibility of political parties, subject to the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable laws, regulations and guidelines.

“For the avoidance of doubt, INEC does not nominate candidates for political parties,” he said.

According to him, political parties submit the particulars of their candidates through INEC’s candidate nomination portal, using access credentials issued to them by the commission.

He stressed that transactions on the platform were electronically recorded, creating an audit trail capable of establishing the source and history of entries relating to candidates listed on the portal.

“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 commission consequently challenged the NDC to substantiate its allegation that INEC officials had independently introduced candidates into the party’s list.

Oketola said the claim that officials obtained Form EC9 directly from aspirants or candidates and uploaded their details without the party’s approval was a serious allegation that could be tested against INEC’s electronic and documentary 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.

He urged the party to provide details and evidence identifying any INEC officials allegedly involved in the purported unauthorised interference, assuring that credible allegations of misconduct would be investigated.

The commission also drew a line between its statutory responsibility to monitor political party primaries and the authority to nominate candidates.

According to Oketola, monitoring a party primary does not give INEC the power to select a candidate for the political 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 stated.

He added that disputes arising from party primaries, appeals against primary outcomes or attempts to alter the results of such processes must be addressed under the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable laws.

“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,” Oketola said.

The commission maintained that it had no interest in determining which candidates political parties field in elections, insisting that its duty was to administer the electoral process impartially.

It also reminded political parties that they were responsible for ensuring that their internal nomination processes, appeals, candidate submissions and use of the nomination portal complied with legal requirements and prescribed deadlines.

While assuring stakeholders of transparency in the candidate nomination process, INEC said legitimate complaints would be resolved through its records and the applicable legal framework.

“The Commission will neither nominate candidates for political parties nor lend itself to the imposition of candidates on any political party,” Oketola said.