NDC Accuses INEC of Replacing Anambra Candidates

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of replacing candidates submitted by the party with names it did not approve for the 2027 Anambra State House of Assembly elections.

The allegation followed INEC’s publication of its list of candidates for the State Houses of Assembly elections, which the NDC said contained individuals who did not emerge from its nomination and screening process.

National Chairman of the party, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, alleged that the development was an attempt to undermine the NDC’s preparations for the 2027 elections, particularly in Anambra State, which is the home state of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Zuwoghe said the party had identified 10 names published by INEC as its candidates in different Anambra constituencies that were neither nominated nor authorised by the NDC.

He called on the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, to investigate how the disputed names appeared on the commission’s candidate portal and determine those responsible for the entries.

The NDC chairman also called for the investigation to cover other states, including Benue and Imo, where he claimed the party had encountered similar problems with its candidates.

According to him, the development had created confusion within the party and affected candidates who had legitimately gone through the NDC’s nomination process.

He said the party was conducting its own investigation into the matter and that preliminary findings suggested that some INEC officials may have been involved in the publication of names that were not submitted by the party.

The NDC identified the disputed candidates in Anambra as Umennaajiego Jude Ezenwa for Onitsha South I, Akpotue Obinna Chibuike for Onitsha South II, Nwankwo Chiemerie for Orumba North, Maduagwu Eric K. for Anaocha I, Ngoebisi Obinna for Idemili North and Isintume Charles for Njikoka I.

Others listed by the party were Nwachukwu Nonso and Okeke Ifeanyi Akunne for Nnewi South, Nnonyelu Samson E. for Ayamelum and Azotani Chuks Francis for Dunukofia.

Zuwoghe maintained that none of the 10 individuals was submitted or approved by the party as its candidate.

He explained that after the completion of the NDC’s primary elections and the resolution of related appeals in Anambra, party stakeholders, representatives of Obi and members of the appeals panel agreed on a final list of candidates.

According to him, the approved list was signed off by the relevant stakeholders and later uploaded to the INEC portal using the access credentials supplied to the party.

The chairman alleged that despite the submission, INEC kept the details of 10 of the party’s nominees in a pending category while names of individuals the party did not recognise were already present in the commission’s system.

He claimed that those disputed names were linked to officials who monitored the NDC’s primary elections, although the party had not authorised their nomination.

Zuwoghe said the NDC subsequently submitted a formal complaint to INEC and provided the names of its actual candidates together with the necessary covering documents.

He alleged that the electoral commission failed to replace the disputed entries despite the party’s request.

The NDC chairman further alleged that INEC obtained Form EC9 directly from the individuals whose names were being challenged and subsequently uploaded their details as candidates of the party.

He argued that such an action was inconsistent with the party’s nomination process and the procedures governing the submission of candidates for elections.

The party is now demanding an explanation from INEC over how the disputed names entered its database and is seeking corrective action before the 2027 elections.

Zuwoghe said the NDC would continue with its independent investigation while urging the electoral commission to address the matter and ensure that only candidates legitimately nominated and submitted by the party are recognised as its candidates.