2027: NDC accuses INEC of replacing candidates with ‘unknown names’

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of removing some of its nominated candidates from the commission’s list for the 2027 elections and replacing them with individuals the party says it did not nominate.

The National Chairman of the party, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, made the allegation in a statement on Sunday following INEC’s publication of candidates for the 2027 State Houses of Assembly elections.

Cleopas said the development was particularly concerning in Anambra State, the home state of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, alleging that the published list contained names that were neither authorised nor submitted by the party.

According to him, 10 names were published by INEC as NDC candidates across various constituencies in Anambra, despite the party’s claim that they were not its duly nominated candidates.

The names listed by the party are:

• Onitsha South 1: Umennaajiego Jude Ezenwa
• Onitsha South 2: Akpotue Obinna Chibuike
• Orumba North: Nwankwo Chiemerie
• Anaocha 1: Maduagwu Eric K
• Idemili North: Ngoebisi Obinna
• Njikoka 1: Isintume Charles
• Nnewi South: Nwachukwu Nonso
• Nnewi South 2: Okeke Ifeanyi Akunne
• Ayamelum: Nnonyelu Samson E
• Dunukofia: Azotani Chuks Francis

Cleopas called on the INEC Chairman to immediately investigate how the names came to be included in the commission’s list and determine the officials responsible.

He also urged the electoral commission to extend the investigation to other states, particularly Benue and Imo, where he alleged that the party had observed a similar pattern.

The NDC chairman said the development had embarrassed the party, its leadership and its legitimate candidates, while also creating confusion among supporters in Nigeria and the diaspora.

“We, as a party, are also carrying out our own independent investigation, the preliminary findings of which are already pointing to the complicity of INEC officials in foisting names purporting to be our candidates, but who are not from us,” he alleged.

NDC alleges irregularities in uploading process

Cleopas said the party became concerned after completing its primaries and appeal process in Anambra State.

He explained that stakeholders from the state, the national leadership of the party, representatives of Peter Obi and members of the appeals panel had agreed on a final list of candidates.

According to him, the list was subsequently endorsed by the relevant stakeholders and uploaded to the INEC portal using the access code provided to the party by the electoral commission.

He alleged, however, that INEC officials later placed nine of the submitted names on “Pending” status, claiming that the names were already contained in the commission’s system based on information provided by officials who monitored the party’s primaries.

Cleopas said the NDC challenged the disputed entries and submitted the details of the candidates it considered legitimate, but alleged that INEC failed to replace the names in question.

He further accused the commission of collecting Form EC-9 directly from the individuals whose candidacies were disputed and subsequently uploading the forms without involving the party.

“To further confirm that there was a predetermined effort on the part of INEC to impose the said nine candidates on the party, and embarrass both NDC and Mr. Peter Obi, INEC went behind the NDC to collect the Form EC-9 directly from the candidates, bypassing the party, and uploading same,” he alleged.

The party chairman argued that if INEC had identified inconsistencies between the candidates submitted by the party and information obtained from its monitoring officials, the commission should have sought clarification rather than publish candidates whose nomination was disputed.

“At the very worst, INEC could have left us with no candidates for those positions, if they knew they were unwilling to engage us in addressing any perceived anomaly,” he said.

Cleopas alleged that the situation reflected a wider pattern in which opposition parties were allegedly being prevented from uploading their preferred candidates while other names were introduced into their candidate lists.

He said the NDC would not accept the development and would pursue all available legal avenues to challenge the disputed nominations.

“We are moving to approach the court of competent jurisdiction to seek redress and restore our authentic candidates,” he said.

The party urged its supporters and the general public to remain calm, insisting that it was taking steps to address what it described as irregularities in the candidate publication process.

The allegations against INEC are yet to be independently established, and the commission had not, in the material provided, issued a response to the NDC’s claims.

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