INEC Dismisses NDC Allegations of ‘Smuggled’ Candidates, Says Claims Unfounded

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed allegations by the leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) that the Commission removed the party’s validly nominated candidates for some State House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra and Benue States and replaced them with unauthorised names.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, the Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mohammed Kudu Haruna, described the allegations as unfounded, stressing that the nomination of candidates remains the exclusive responsibility of political parties under the law.

Haruna explained that INEC does not have the legal authority to select, insert or substitute candidates for political parties. He added that while the Commission monitors party primaries as part of its statutory oversight responsibilities, such monitoring does not confer on INEC the power to choose or impose candidates on any political party.

According to him, in preparation for the 2027 general elections, all 22 registered political parties designated two technically trained officers to manage their candidate nomination processes following training organised by INEC. The Commission subsequently issued portal access codes directly and personally to the National Chairmen of the respective parties, rather than through proxies.

He further stated that the candidate lists submitted by each political party were generated from information provided by the parties and jointly signed by their National Chairmen and National Secretaries through the relevant Form EC9 series (A-G). Consequently, he said, claims that INEC independently uploaded, altered or substituted candidate information were untrue.

The Commission also disclosed that it has in its possession Form EC9E containing the names of the candidates in question, duly submitted and signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the NDC. This, INEC said, further demonstrates that the candidate information originated from the political party itself.

INEC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and fairness in the electoral process, assuring political parties and other stakeholders that it would continue to provide a level playing field ahead of the 2027 elections.