INEC distances self From NDC candidate substitution claim

• …says parties choose their candidates

By Lateef Ibrahim

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has dismissed allegations by the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, that it replaced the names of the party’s duly nominated candidates with unauthorized candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The commission described the allegation as unfounded, insisting that it has no legal authority to select, substitute or add candidates on behalf of political parties.

In a statement issued by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, the commission explained that the responsibility for nominating candidates rests entirely with political parties.

According to INEC, its role during party primaries is limited to monitoring compliance with relevant electoral laws and does not extend to determining who emerges as a party’s candidate.

“INEC does not have the legal power to choose, add, or replace a candidate for any party,” the commission stated.

INEC further disclosed that all 22 registered political parties participating in the 2027 elections selected two officials with the requisite skills to manage their candidate nomination processes.

It said the officials were subsequently trained by the commission.

The commission said access codes for its nomination portal were provided directly to the national chairmen of the respective parties rather than through intermediaries.

It added that the candidate lists submitted to INEC were generated from information provided by the political parties and authenticated through the EC9 series forms, which were jointly signed by the national chairmen and secretaries.

Specifically addressing the NDC’s allegation, INEC said it did not independently upload, alter or substitute the candidates submitted by the party.

The commission pointed to Form EC9E, which contains the list of candidates submitted to it and was signed by the NDC’s national chairman and national secretary.

INEC urged political parties and other stakeholders to rely on verifiable information regarding the electoral process, reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability and fairness ahead of the 2027 elections.