Commission says political parties alone are responsible for candidate nominations, insists it has no power to substitute or impose candidates
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed allegations by the leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) that it 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.
The Commission described the allegation as unfounded and untrue, insisting that the nomination of candidates is exclusively the responsibility of political parties under the law.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC said it had no legal authority to select, insert or substitute candidates for any political party.
According to the Commission, its role in monitoring political party primaries is limited to statutory oversight and does not give it the power to choose or impose candidates on any party.
INEC explained that ahead of the 2027 general elections, all 22 registered political parties designated two technically trained officers to manage their candidate nomination processes after participating in training organised by the Commission.
It added that portal access codes were subsequently issued directly to the National Chairmen of the respective parties.
The Commission said candidate lists were generated based on submissions made by the political parties, with the forms jointly signed by their National Chairmen and National Secretaries under the Form EC9 series (A-G).
“Therefore, any claim that the Commission independently uploaded or altered candidate information is unfounded and untrue,” the statement said.
INEC further stated that it has in its possession Form EC9E, on which the candidates in question were listed and submitted to the Commission, duly signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to transparency and accountability, assuring stakeholders that it would continue to provide a level playing field for all participants in the electoral process.
Haruna signed the statement dated September 1, 2026, on behalf of the Commission’s Information and Voter Education Committee.