By Myke Uzendu
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of allegedly replacing candidates nominated by the party for the 2027 general elections with names it said were neither authorised nor submitted by the party.
The allegation followed the publication by INEC of the list of candidates for the State Houses of Assembly elections, with the NDC National Chairman, Sen. Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, describing the development as a deliberate attempt to undermine the party ahead of the elections.
The party, in particular, alleged that nine names published as its candidates for various constituencies in Anambra State were unknown to the party and were not among those nominated through its internal primary and appeal processes.
In a statement on Sunday, Zuwoghe called on the INEC Chairman to urgently investigate how the names found their way onto the commission’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,” he said.
The NDC alleged that similar discrepancies had been detected in other states, including Benue and Imo, describing the development as a growing pattern of what it called the “fencing out” of its authentic candidates.
According to the party, the alleged substitutions had caused embarrassment to its leadership and candidates while also generating disaffection among its supporters in Nigeria and the Diaspora.
The NDC chairman said the party was conducting its own investigation into the matter, adding that preliminary findings allegedly pointed to the involvement of some INEC officials in the disputed candidate-uploading process.
He specifically listed 10 names published under the Anambra State House of Assembly category which, he maintained, were not nominated by the NDC.
They include Umennaajiego Jude Ezenwa for Onitsha South 1; Akpotue Obinna Chibuike for Onitsha South 2; Nwankwo Chiemerie for Orumba North; Maduagwu Eric K for Anaocha 1; Ngoebisi Obinna for Idemili North; Isintume Charles for Njikoka 1; Nwachukwu Nonso for Nnewi South; Okeke Ifeanyi Akunne for Nnewi South 2; Nnonyelu Samson E. for Ayamelum; and Azotani Chuks Francis for Dunukofia.
Zuwoghe insisted that he, as national chairman and custodian of the party’s candidate-uploading code, did not upload the disputed names, stressing that the party had also not authorised their submission.
He explained that following the completion of the party’s primaries and appeal process, stakeholders from Anambra, the party leadership, representatives of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the party’s appeals panel had agreed on a final list of candidates.
According to him, the NDC subsequently uploaded the list through the portal using the credentials supplied by INEC.
He alleged, however, that INEC officials retained nine of the names on “Pending” status, claiming that the commission’s system already contained the names submitted by its officials who monitored the party’s primaries.
