By Media360Impact
ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected allegations by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) that its officials manipulated the party’s candidate list for the 2027 general elections, insisting that political parties are responsible for nominating and submitting their candidates.
The commission said the allegation, particularly the claim involving some State House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra State, was false and could be tested against its electronic and documentary records.
INEC’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, made the clarification while speaking with journalists in Abuja.
Oketola explained that the commission’s responsibility is to administer elections and monitor party primaries, stressing that INEC does not have the legal authority to nominate candidates for political parties or replace candidates validly nominated in accordance with the law.
“Similarly, the commission does not possess the legal authority to select a candidate for a political party or substitute its own preferred candidate for a person validly nominated by a political party in accordance with the law,” he said.
According to him, political parties submit candidates’ particulars through INEC’s candidate nomination portal using access credentials provided to them by the commission.
He added that activities conducted on the portal are electronically recorded, making it possible to trace the source and history of entries.
Oketola therefore urged the NDC and other stakeholders to rely on verifiable electronic and documentary records rather than speculation when determining how particular names appeared on the commission’s platform.
“The allegation that officials of the commission introduced or ‘smuggled’ candidates into the NDC’s list is not a matter that should be determined by speculation. The electronic and documentary records relating to the affected constituencies are capable of establishing the relevant facts,” he said.
The commission also clarified the distinction between monitoring political party primaries and nominating candidates.
Oketola said INEC’s presence at a party primary does not give the commission the power to select candidates or determine who should represent a political party.
He explained that disputes over the outcome of a primary, appeals or attempts to alter a nomination must be resolved in accordance with the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable laws.
According to him, INEC cannot assume the role of a political party in selecting candidates or disregard the statutory requirements governing the nomination and submission process.
On the NDC’s specific allegation that INEC officials obtained Form EC9 directly from individual aspirants and uploaded their details without the party’s authorisation, Oketola described the claim as serious and said the relevant records would be examined.
He called on the NDC to provide evidence against any specific INEC official allegedly involved in misconduct to enable the commission to investigate.
“Any credible allegation of misconduct by an official of the commission will be investigated in accordance with established procedures,” Oketola said.
He maintained that INEC had no interest in determining which candidates emerge from political parties, stressing that the commission’s responsibility is to administer elections impartially and in accordance with the Constitution, Electoral Act and applicable regulations.
The commission also reminded political parties that they are responsible for ensuring that their internal nomination processes, appeals and submission of candidates through the INEC portal comply with the law and prescribed timelines.
INEC assured stakeholders that legitimate concerns about the candidate nomination process would continue to be addressed based on available records and applicable legislation.
“The commission will neither nominate candidates for political parties nor lend itself to the imposition of candidates on any political party,” Oketola said.
