The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has challenged the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to provide evidence backing its allegation that some electoral officials helped insert unauthorised candidates into the party’s list for State House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra State ahead of the 2027 elections.
Dayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan, said the commission would investigate the allegation if the party provides credible evidence and details identifying the officials allegedly involved.
Oketola said INEC would examine its records relating to the constituencies named by the NDC rather than make conclusions based on unverified claims. He urged the party to submit any evidence of officials allegedly interfering with its candidate nomination process.
He also stressed that INEC does not have the authority to nominate or replace candidates for political parties. According to him, candidate selection remains the responsibility of each political party, subject to the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and relevant regulations.
The commission said its electronic candidate nomination portal provides a record of submissions made by political parties. Oketola explained that parties use access credentials issued to them to upload candidates’ details, creating electronic records and an audit trail that can show when and how an entry was made.
He therefore described the NDC’s claim that INEC officials collected Form EC9 directly from aspirants and uploaded their information without the party’s approval as a serious allegation that can be tested against the commission’s records.
Oketola further clarified that INEC’s role in monitoring political party primaries does not give it the power to decide who becomes a party candidate. He said disputes over the outcome of a primary, including issues arising from internal appeals, must be handled within the framework of the Electoral Act 2026.
The INEC spokesman maintained that the commission has no interest in determining which candidates political parties field for elections. He said its responsibility is to administer the electoral process impartially and in line with the Constitution, electoral laws and applicable guidelines.
He added that political parties are also responsible for ensuring that their nomination processes, internal appeals and submissions through the INEC portal comply with the law and prescribed deadlines. Oketola assured that any credible evidence of misconduct by an INEC official would be investigated.
