INEC rejects the NDC candidate substitution claim, saying political parties alone nominate candidates and the commission cannot alter submitted names
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected allegations by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) that it substituted the names of properly nominated party candidates with unauthorised names ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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In a statement issued on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, INEC described the allegation as “unfounded” and said political parties, rather than the electoral commission, are legally responsible for selecting and submitting their candidates.
The statement was signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee.
INEC stressed that its involvement in the nomination process does not extend to selecting candidates for political parties.
“INEC does not have the legal power to choose, add, or replace a candidate for any party,” the commission stated.
According to INEC, its responsibility during party primaries is to monitor proceedings and ensure that political parties comply with relevant electoral laws and regulations.
The commission said all 22 registered political parties participating in the 2027 elections had nominated two officials with the requisite skills to manage their candidate-selection processes.
Those officials, INEC added, were trained by the commission before access codes for the candidate nomination portal were issued directly to the national chairmen of the respective parties.
INEC said the arrangement was designed to maintain accountability over the submission of candidate information and ensure that responsibility remained with the political parties.
The commission further explained that candidate lists were generated from information submitted by the parties and subsequently authenticated through the prescribed documentation.
According to INEC, the lists were jointly signed by the national chairmen and national secretaries of the respective parties using the Form EC9 series.
The commission specifically pointed to Form EC9E, which contains the candidates submitted by a political party.
“In fact, the Commission has a form called EC9E, which lists these candidates and was sent to the Commission. It was signed by the National Chairman and the National Secretary of the party,” INEC said.
The clarification comes amid increasing attention to the nomination process as political parties prepare for the 2027 elections.
Candidate nomination is one of the most sensitive stages of an electoral cycle because disputes over primaries, substitutions and submitted names can quickly develop into legal and political battles.
INEC’s response therefore places the responsibility for the accuracy and authenticity of candidate submissions firmly on the political parties themselves.
The commission’s position is that it receives and processes information provided through the established nomination system but does not independently determine who should represent a party in an election.
By rejecting the NDC’s allegation, INEC has also sought to draw a clear line between its regulatory role and the internal candidate-selection responsibilities of political parties.
The commission said it remains committed to transparency, accountability and fairness throughout the electoral process.
It urged political parties and other stakeholders to adhere to the established procedures and engage with the commission through the appropriate channels when concerns arise over candidate nominations.
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The dispute nevertheless highlights the importance of clear documentation and internal accountability as parties move towards the 2027 elections, particularly where competing claims emerge over who was validly nominated to contest under a party’s platform.
