INEC Investigates Unknown Names on NDC Candidate List

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has initiated an investigation into the emergence of unfamiliar names on the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate list for the 2027 general elections. This inquiry follows allegations from the NDC that names of candidates, which the party did not nominate or authorize, were uploaded and published for various state House of Assembly constituencies, particularly in Anambra State.

INEC has denied these allegations, asserting that it removed candidates nominated by the NDC and replaced them with names unknown to the commission. Adedayo Oketola, INEC's Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, emphasized that INEC does not have the legal authority to nominate candidates for political parties.

He clarified that the responsibility for candidate nominations lies with the political parties, and INEC's role is to administer the electoral process according to the law. Oketola stated that the candidate nomination portal records all submissions, allowing for verification of any candidate's history and source.