NDC Accuses INEC of Replacing Anambra Candidates With 'Imposters'; INEC Denies
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The Nigeria Democratic Congress says INEC published 10 names as its candidates for Anambra State House of Assembly seats that the party never nominated. INEC says it has no legal authority to nominate or substitute candidates.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of publishing the names of 10 individuals as its candidates for the 2027 Anambra State House of Assembly elections whom the party says it never nominated.
NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, said the disputed names appeared in several constituencies, particularly in Anambra State, home state of the party's presidential candidate, Peter Obi. He said he was the sole custodian of the code used to upload the party's candidates and did not upload the disputed names, alleging that INEC's system contained different names submitted by officials who monitored the party's primaries. The NDC said it had formally objected and submitted its authentic candidates, but INEC declined to make the changes.
INEC's Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, denied the allegation, saying the commission has no legal authority to nominate candidates for political parties or substitute candidates validly nominated in accordance with the law. INEC said responsibility for nominating and submitting candidates rests solely with political parties, subject to the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2026. The NDC has said it plans to seek legal redress and has called for an investigation covering Anambra and other states, including Benue and Imo.