NDC Accuses INEC Of Replacing Candidates With ‘Unknown’ Names

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of replacing some of its nominated candidates for the 2027 elections with individuals allegedly not submitted or authorised by the party.

NDC national chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, made the allegation on Sunday following INEC’s publication of candidates for the 2027 State Houses of Assembly elections.

Cleopas said the alleged discrepancies were most noticeable in Anambra State, the home state of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, accusing the electoral commission of actions capable of undermining the party ahead of the elections.

According to him, names of individuals who were neither nominated nor endorsed by the NDC appeared on INEC’s list for several constituencies.

The party chairman called on INEC chairman to urgently investigate the circumstances surrounding the appearance of the disputed names on the commission’s published list.

He also requested that the investigation cover Benue and Imo states, where he said the party had discovered similar discrepancies.

Cleopas said the development had caused embarrassment to the NDC, its leadership and affected candidates, while also generating disaffection among supporters within Nigeria and in the diaspora.

“We, as a party, are also carrying out our own independent investigation, the preliminary findings of which are already pointing to the complicity of INEC officials in foisting names purporting to be our candidates, but who are not from us,” he alleged.

He further alleged that the disputed process was part of an attempt to intimidate and discredit the opposition party ahead of the 2027 polls.

The NDC chairman listed the disputed names published for various constituencies in Anambra as Umennaajiego Jude Ezenwa for Onitsha South 1; Akpotue Obinna Chibuike for Onitsha South 2; Nwankwo Chiemerie for Orumba North; Maduagwu Eric K for Anaocha 1; Ngoebisi Obinna for Idemili North; Isintume Charles for Njikoka 1; Nwachukwu Nonso for Nnewi South; Okeke Ifeanyi Akunne for Nnewi South 2; Nnonyelu Samson E for Ayamelum; and Azotani Chuks Francis for Dunukofia.

Cleopas said the party was particularly disturbed by the manner in which the disputed names were processed, uploaded and eventually published by INEC.

He explained that following the completion of the NDC’s primaries and appeal process, stakeholders from Anambra, the party leadership, representatives of Obi and members of the appeals panel reached an agreement on the final list of candidates.

He said the agreed list was signed by the relevant stakeholders before it was uploaded to the INEC portal using the access code issued to the party by the commission.

However, Cleopas alleged that INEC officials subsequently kept nine of the submitted names in “Pending” status, claiming that the affected names were already in the commission’s system based on information submitted by officials who monitored the party’s primaries.

According to him, the NDC formally protested the disputed entries and forwarded the names of candidates it recognised as its legitimate nominees, but alleged that INEC declined to substitute the names.

He further alleged that the commission later obtained Form EC-9 directly from the disputed individuals and uploaded the documents without the involvement or authorisation of the party.

“To further confirm that there was a predetermined effort on the part of INEC to impose the said nine candidates on the party, and embarrass both NDC and Mr. Peter Obi, INEC went behind the NDC to collect the Form EC-9 directly from the candidates, bypassing the party, and uploading same,” he alleged.

The NDC chairman argued that where there was a conflict between the list submitted by the party and information gathered by INEC officials who monitored the primaries, the commission should have left the affected positions vacant pending the resolution of the disagreement.

“At the very worst, INEC could have left us with no candidates for those positions, if they knew they were unwilling to engage us in addressing any perceived anomaly,” he said.

Cleopas alleged that the development could create a system where opposition parties are denied the opportunity to upload their preferred candidates, while other individuals are subsequently inserted into their lists.

He said the NDC would seek legal redress over the matter, with the aim of having what it described as its authentic candidates restored.

“We are moving to approach the court of competent jurisdiction to seek redress and restore our authentic candidates. The general public and our millions of supporters should note that these are not our candidates,” he said.