INEC, NDC Clash Over Candidates’ List Change

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) are locked in a dispute over the list of candidates submitted for the 2027 Anambra State House of Assembly election.

The disagreement followed claims by the NDC that INEC published names that were not among the candidates who emerged from the party’s primary election appeal process. The party alleged that nine candidates who successfully challenged the results of the May 2026 primaries were replaced with different names on the commission’s published list.

INEC, however, rejected the allegation and said it had records showing that the disputed candidates were submitted by the NDC’s national leadership. The commission said the relevant candidate nomination forms were signed by the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary. It also maintained that political parties, rather than INEC, are responsible for choosing and submitting their candidates.

According to the commission, all registered political parties were given access to its candidate nomination portal after their designated officers received technical training. INEC said access codes were issued through the national chairmen of the parties, while candidate information was generated from the forms submitted and jointly signed by the national chairman and secretary. It therefore denied independently changing or uploading names submitted by the NDC.

The NDC had earlier written to INEC requesting that nine candidates who won appeals against the outcomes of the party’s primary elections be recognised and published as its candidates for various constituencies in Anambra State. The party said it submitted the results of the appeals, along with those of other candidates who successfully challenged the primary results, to the electoral commission.

The candidates named by the NDC included Azubuike Okoye for Anaocha I, Paul Nagozie Nwabufo for Njikoka, Kingsley Udemezue for Idemili North, Arinze Nete Nzewi for Nnewi South I, Nwigbo Kam Stan for Nnewi South II, Ngozi Ezenwa for Orumba North, Fred Chigozie Ezenwa for Onitsha South I, Bernard Udemezue for Anyamelum and Basil Obidi Okechukwu for Dunukofia.

The party, however, said the names later published by INEC were different. Among those listed by the commission were Umennaajiego Jude Ezenwa for Onitsha South I, Nwankwo Chiemerie for Orumba North, Maduagwu Eric K. for Anaocha I, Ngoebisi Obinna for Idemili North, Isintume Charles for Njikoka I, Nwachukwu Nonso for Nnewi South, Okeke Ifeanyi Akunne for Nnewi South II, Nnonyelu Samson E. for Ayamelum and Azotani Chuks Francis for Dunukofia.

The dispute has created uncertainty over the identities of the candidates who will represent the NDC in the affected constituencies in the 2027 election. While the party maintains that its appeal decisions should determine the valid candidates, INEC insists that the names it published were based on official nomination documents submitted by the party’s authorised national officers.

INEC also said monitoring political party primaries does not give it the power to select candidates or replace names submitted by political parties. The commission maintained that its responsibility is to administer the electoral process according to the law and ensure that parties comply with the requirements for candidate nomination.

The NDC’s allegation and INEC’s response have therefore left the two sides with conflicting positions over the same candidate records. The matter could require further clarification from the electoral commission and the party as preparations for the 2027 Anambra State House of Assembly election continue.