The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected allegations by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) that it removed validly nominated candidates of the party in some State House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra and Benue States and replaced them with unauthorised names.
The Commission described the allegation as unfounded, insisting that political parties have exclusive responsibility for nominating candidates for elections, while INEC has no legal power to independently select, insert or substitute candidates submitted by political parties.
The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), in response to the allegations attributed to the leadership of the NDC.
The controversy centres on claims by the opposition party that some of its candidates for the 2027 elections had allegedly been removed from the electoral commission’s records and replaced with names that were neither nominated nor authorised by the party.
The NDC had reportedly raised concerns over the appearance of what it described as “strange names” on the Commission’s records, particularly in some constituencies in Anambra and Benue States.
However, INEC said the allegation wrongly suggested that the Commission had the authority to determine who should represent a political party in an election.
According to the electoral body, candidate nomination is a responsibility vested by law in political parties, and INEC’s role is limited to receiving and processing information submitted by parties in accordance with the electoral framework.
“Candidate nomination is, by law, the exclusive responsibility of political parties,” the Commission stated.
INEC explained that although it monitors political party primaries as part of its statutory responsibilities, such monitoring does not give the Commission the power to nominate candidates or impose particular individuals on political parties.
The Commission stressed that its presence during party primaries should not be interpreted as participation in the selection process. Rather, its role is to provide statutory oversight to ensure that parties conduct their nomination processes in accordance with relevant electoral provisions.
“Monitoring a party’s primary is a statutory oversight function only and confers no power on INEC to choose or impose a candidate,” the statement added.
The electoral commission also provided details of the procedures adopted ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying measures were put in place to ensure that political parties themselves retained control of their candidate nomination processes.
According to INEC, all 22 registered political parties designated two technically trained officers to manage their respective nomination processes.
The officers, the Commission explained, underwent training organised by INEC to familiarise them with the procedures and technical requirements involved in submitting candidates electronically.
Following the training, portal access codes were issued directly to the National Chairmen of the respective political parties.
INEC emphasised that the access codes were handed over personally to the National Chairmen and were not released to proxies or third parties.
The Commission said the procedure was designed to ensure that political parties remained directly responsible for the information submitted through the nomination platform.
It further stated that candidate lists were generated based on information submitted by the political parties.
According to the electoral body, the submissions were jointly signed by the National Chairmen and National Secretaries of the respective parties through the prescribed Form EC9 series, covering Forms EC9A to EC9G.
INEC argued that this documentation makes it impossible for the Commission to independently upload or alter the candidate information submitted by a political party without the party’s involvement.
“Therefore any claim that the Commission independently uploaded or altered candidate information is unfounded and untrue,” the statement said.
The Commission further disclosed that it is in possession of the relevant nomination documents relating to the candidates at the centre of the dispute.
Specifically, INEC said it has Form EC9E in its custody, containing the names of the candidates submitted by the NDC and duly endorsed by the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary.
The disclosure appears intended to counter the NDC’s assertion that names appearing in the Commission’s records were introduced without the party’s authorisation.
By pointing to the signed nomination form, INEC maintained that the official documentation in its possession provides evidence of what was submitted to the Commission by the party itself.
The development adds another dimension to the emerging political disputes ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly as political parties prepare their candidates and electoral structures across the country.
Candidate nomination is a critical stage of the electoral process, as the names submitted by political parties determine who will appear on the ballot for various elective positions.
Disagreements over candidate lists can therefore have significant consequences for political parties and aspirants, particularly where competing individuals claim to have been legitimately nominated.
INEC, however, maintained that its responsibility is to administer the electoral process within the limits of its constitutional and statutory mandate.
The Commission’s response also underscores the importance of political parties maintaining proper records of their nomination proceedings and ensuring that authorised officials handle submissions to the electoral management body.
For INEC, the controversy does not alter its stated commitment to ensuring that all political parties are treated equally within the electoral process.
The Commission said it remains committed to transparency, accountability and the provision of a level playing field for all stakeholders participating in the 2027 electoral process.
The statement by Haruna effectively places the responsibility for resolving any disagreement over the authenticity of candidate submissions on the documentary records generated during the nomination process.
For the NDC, the issue remains politically significant because any discrepancy between the candidates the party says it nominated and the names contained in INEC’s records could affect its participation in particular constituencies.
However, INEC has firmly rejected the suggestion that it secretly introduced or “smuggled” candidates into the electoral process.
The Commission’s position is that the nomination process is initiated and controlled by political parties, while its role is to receive the information submitted through the prescribed procedures and administer the election in accordance with the law.
As the 2027 elections draw closer, the dispute highlights the need for political parties and electoral authorities to maintain clear documentary trails capable of resolving disagreements over candidate nominations.
INEC’s latest statement suggests that the signed Form EC9 series, particularly the EC9E form referenced by the Commission, will be central to establishing what candidates were officially submitted by the NDC.
The electoral body has consequently maintained that its records reflect submissions made by the political party through its authorised leadership and that allegations of unilateral alteration or substitution by INEC are without basis.
The Commission reiterated that its overriding objective is to conduct an electoral process based on transparency, accountability and equal treatment of all participating political parties.
The statement was signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), on September 1, 2026.
