INEC: Denies NDC Candidate List Alteration Claims

• The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) denied allegations from the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) that it altered candidate lists for State House of Assembly constituencies.
• INEC stated its records, specifically Form EC9E, show the disputed candidates were listed and duly signed by the NDC National Chairman and National Secretary.
• The commission emphasized that candidate nomination is the exclusive responsibility of political parties, and it lacks legal authority to choose or substitute candidates.
• INEC confirmed that candidate lists are generated directly from party submissions, jointly signed by their national chairmen and national secretaries in the Form EC9 series.
• Ahead of the 2027 elections, INEC trained party officers and issued portal access codes directly to national chairmen to manage nomination processes.

The commission's firm denial and detailed explanation of its procedures highlight its commitment to upholding the integrity of the electoral process by strictly adhering to official party submissions.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has firmly rejected allegations made by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) concerning the alteration of its candidate lists. The NDC had accused the electoral body of unilaterally removing its nominated candidates for State House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra and Benue states, subsequently replacing them with individuals not authorized by the party. These allegations suggested that names unknown to the NDC were uploaded and published as their official candidates for various constituencies.

The NDC's claims asserted that INEC had independently altered the candidate information, substituting the party's chosen representatives with unauthorized individuals. The party specifically highlighted several constituencies within Anambra State where this alleged alteration occurred, noting a similar pattern observed in other states. This development prompted a direct response from the electoral commission, which moved to clarify its position regarding the integrity of candidate submissions.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of INEC's Information and Voter Education Committee, the commission unequivocally denied the allegations. INEC maintained that its official records conclusively demonstrate that the candidates in question were indeed listed on Form EC9E, a crucial document submitted to the commission. Crucially, this form was duly signed by both the National Chairman and the National Secretary of the NDC, indicating official party endorsement.

This clarification reinforced earlier statements from Adedayo Oketola, INEC’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, who had emphasized the commission's reliance on comprehensive electronic and documentary records. Oketola had previously stated that these records enable the objective establishment of the history and source of all entries related to any candidate appearing on the portal. Consequently, INEC possesses the specific Form EC9E where these candidates were listed, bearing the authentic signatures of the party's top officials, thereby refuting the Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate dispute claims.

INEC underscored that the nomination of candidates is, by Nigerian electoral law, the exclusive responsibility of political parties. The commission explicitly stated that it possesses no legal authority to select, insert, or substitute candidates for any political entity. Furthermore, INEC clarified its statutory role in monitoring party primaries, explaining that this oversight function does not confer upon it the power to choose or impose a candidate on a political party. Its involvement is limited to observing the internal processes, not dictating outcomes.

To ensure the integrity of the candidate nomination process ahead of the 2027 general elections, INEC organized training for all 22 registered political parties. Each party designated two technically trained officers to manage their candidate nomination procedures. Following this training, portal access codes were issued directly and in person to the national chairmen of these parties, specifically to prevent proxy access. The commission emphasized that candidate lists are generated precisely as submitted by the parties, jointly signed by their national chairmen and national secretaries within the Form EC9 series (A-G), further solidifying the parties' direct responsibility for their submissions and highlighting INEC political party responsibility.

The commission's firm denial and detailed explanation of its procedures highlight its commitment to upholding the integrity of the electoral process by strictly adhering to official party submissions. By rejecting the NDC's claims that it independently uploaded or altered candidate information, INEC reinforces the principle that political parties bear the sole responsibility for the accuracy and authenticity of their candidate lists. This stance clarifies INEC's non-interventionist role in party candidate selection, emphasizing that the commission acts as a custodian of submitted records rather than an arbiter of internal party disputes over nominations.

The reliance on duly signed Form EC9E and the Form EC9 series underscores the critical importance of meticulous internal processes and accurate, authorized submissions by political parties to the electoral body. This development clarifies INEC's strict adherence to submitted candidate lists and its non-interventionist role in party candidate selection, signaling that the commission will rely solely on these official records in disputes.

This development clarifies INEC's strict adherence to submitted candidate lists (Form EC9E, EC9 series) and its non-interventionist role in party candidate selection. Lawyers advising political parties or candidates must ensure meticulous internal processes and accurate, duly signed submissions to INEC, as the commission will rely solely on these official records in disputes.

Source: Original reporting via Tosin Oyediran