NDC Accuses INEC of Candidate Replacement Ahead of 2027

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of allegedly removing candidates nominated by the party for the 2027 general elections and replacing them with individuals described as “strange names.” NDC National Chairman Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe made this allegation in response to the list of candidates for the State Houses of Assembly elections published by INEC. He stated that this action was a deliberate attempt to undermine the party and create confusion among its supporters, particularly in Anambra State, where he claimed 10 unauthorized names were published as NDC candidates.

Zuwoghe asserted that none of these individuals emerged from the party’s nomination process and that the NDC did not submit their names to INEC. He explained that after the party's primaries, a final list of candidates was endorsed and uploaded through the code provided by INEC, but nine names remained in “Pending” status.

Despite objections from the NDC, INEC allegedly published the disputed names and obtained Form EC-9 directly from these candidates.