The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refuted claims by the leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) that it altered the names of nominated candidates for some State House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra and Benue States ahead of the 2027 election.
In a statement issued by its Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, on Tuesday, INEC described the allegations as unfounded and untrue.
Haruna explained that candidate nomination is, by law, the exclusive responsibility of political parties, noting that the Commission has no legal authority to select, insert or substitute a candidate for any party.
He stated that monitoring a party’s primary is a statutory oversight function only and does not confer any power on INEC to choose or impose a candidate.
“Ahead of the 2027 election, all 22 registered parties designated two technically trained officers to handle their nomination process, following training organised by the Commission. Thereafter, the portal access codes were issued directly and in person to each party’s National Chairman, and not by proxy.
“List of candidates were generated for each party as submitted by the party jointly signed by the National Chairmen and National Secretaries of the party, making the submission in Form EC9 series (A-G). Therefore any claim that the Commission independently uploaded or altered candidate information is unfounded and untrue,” he said.
Haruna stressed that INEC has in its possession Form EC9E, in which the candidates were listed and submitted to the Commission, duly signed by the National Chairman and the National Secretary of the party.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to transparency, accountability, and providing a level playing field for all stakeholders in the electoral process.
