NEWS
NDC Accuses INEC of Replacing Its 2027 Candidates With ‘Strange Names’ in Anambra
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has raised a serious alarm over the list of candidates recently published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 general elections, alleging that the electoral body removed candidates legitimately nominated by the party and replaced them with what it described as “strange names” unknown to its leadership.
The opposition party said the alleged substitution had created confusion within its ranks and could undermine its preparations for the 2027 elections, particularly in constituencies where its supporters were already mobilising behind candidates who emerged through its internal nomination process.
The NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, made the allegations while reacting to the list of candidates for the State Houses of Assembly elections published by INEC on Sunday.
According to Zuwoghe, the development was not a simple administrative error but an alleged deliberate attempt to weaken the party, cause dissatisfaction among its supporters and create uncertainty ahead of the elections.
He said the situation was particularly disturbing in Anambra State, the home state of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, where he alleged that 10 individuals were published as NDC candidates without the party’s authorisation.
“The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, totally condemns the action of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its officials over the uploading and publication of unauthorized names in various constituencies, principally in the Anambra State House of Assembly,” he said.
The party chairman identified the affected constituencies and the names published by INEC as Onitsha South 1 – Umennaajiego Jude Ezenwa; Onitsha South 2 – Akpotue Obinna Chibuike; Orumba North – Nwankwo Chiemerie; Anaocha 1 – Maduagwu Eric K; Idemili North – Ngoebisi Obinna; Njikoka 1 – Isintume Charles; Nnewi South – Nwachukwu Nonso; Nnewi South 2 – Okeke Ifeanyi Akunne; Ayamelum – Nnonyelu Samson E.; and Dunukofia – Azotani Chuks Francis.
Zuwoghe insisted that none of the individuals listed by INEC emerged from the NDC’s recognised nomination process and maintained that the party never submitted their names to the commission.
“For clarity purposes, I, as Chairman of the Party and custodian of the code given to the NDC for the upload of our candidates, never uploaded those names, and I unequivocally state that the party did not also upload those nine names,” Zuwoghe said.
He explained that the controversy arose after the NDC concluded its primaries and subsequent appeal process in Anambra State.
According to him, stakeholders from the state, in collaboration with the national leadership of the party, representatives of Peter Obi and members of the appeals panel, worked together to produce what the party considered its final and authentic list of candidates.
Zuwoghe said the NDC thereafter uploaded the approved list using the code supplied by INEC for the submission of its candidates.
However, he alleged that officials responsible for the backend operations of INEC’s candidate-uploading portal left nine of the submitted names in “Pending” status.
According to the NDC chairman, officials of the electoral commission allegedly explained that the names were already contained in INEC’s system and had purportedly been submitted by individuals who monitored the party’s primaries.
The party, however, rejected the names and formally objected to their inclusion, insisting that they did not represent the outcome of its nomination process.
Zuwoghe said the NDC subsequently submitted the names of candidates it maintained had been legitimately nominated, expecting the electoral commission to resolve the discrepancy through consultation with the party.
Instead, he alleged, INEC proceeded to publish the disputed names.
The NDC chairman further accused the commission of bypassing the party and dealing directly with the individuals whose names were in dispute.
He alleged that INEC obtained Form EC-9 directly from the affected individuals and uploaded the documents onto its portal without going through the NDC leadership.
“To further confirm that there was a predetermined effort on the part of INEC to impose the said nine candidates on the party, and embarrass both NDC and Mr. Peter Obi, INEC went behind the NDC to collect the Form EC-9 directly from the candidates, bypassing the party, and uploading same,” he alleged.
The allegation has added another layer of controversy to preparations for the 2027 elections, with the NDC arguing that the party, rather than individual aspirants, should be the recognised channel through which its candidates are presented to the electoral commission.
Zuwoghe described the alleged action as unacceptable and contrary to the Electoral Act and INEC’s established guidelines.
He argued that if the commission had concerns about the authenticity of candidates submitted by the party, the appropriate step would have been to engage the NDC leadership and seek clarification rather than allegedly replacing the candidates.
“At the very worst, INEC could have left us with no candidates for those positions, if they knew they were unwilling to engage us in addressing any perceived anomaly,” he said.
The NDC chairman also alleged that the issue was not limited to Anambra State.
He claimed that similar discrepancies had been detected in other parts of the country, including Benue and Imo states, raising concerns within the party about the integrity of its candidate lists across multiple constituencies.
The party has consequently demanded a comprehensive investigation into how the disputed names found their way into INEC’s published list.
“We call on the INEC Chairman to urgently and immediately cause an investigation into the matter and unravel how this came to be,” the statement said.
Beyond calling for an investigation by INEC, the NDC disclosed that it had also commenced an internal investigation to establish how the alleged discrepancies occurred.
According to the party, preliminary findings from its investigation suggested possible complicity involving some officials of the electoral commission.
Zuwoghe further accused INEC of allegedly using the candidate-uploading process as a means of intimidating opposition parties, creating internal disagreements and weakening their political structures ahead of the 2027 elections.
The allegation is likely to heighten scrutiny of INEC’s candidate nomination and publication process, particularly as political parties intensify preparations for the next general elections.
The NDC chairman vowed that the party would not allow the matter to be swept under the carpet, saying the party would pursue the issue “to the very end.”
He disclosed that the NDC was prepared to approach a court of competent jurisdiction to challenge the disputed nominations and seek the restoration of candidates it considers to be its authentic nominees.
The party also appealed to members, supporters and the general public not to be misled by the names contained in the disputed publication.
Zuwoghe maintained that the individuals published by INEC in the affected constituencies were not candidates nominated by the NDC, insisting that the party stood by the candidates who emerged from its recognised nomination and appeal processes.
The controversy now places additional pressure on INEC to clarify the circumstances surrounding the disputed names and explain how candidates allegedly not submitted by the NDC appeared on its official list, as the political parties move closer to the 2027 general elections.