The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has challenged the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to substantiate its claim that unauthorised candidates were listed for the 2027 Anambra State House of Assembly election.
The NDC raised the allegation on Sunday, August 30, 2026, after 10 names appeared on INEC’s list for constituencies across the state. The party said the individuals were not nominated through its internal process.
Its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, called for an investigation into how the names were submitted and threatened legal action.
Responding on Monday, August 31, 2026, INEC said it had neither the authority to nominate candidates for political parties nor replace candidates validly submitted by them.
The commission’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, said parties submit candidate details through INEC’s electronic nomination portal, which automatically records each transaction.
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He said the resulting audit trail could establish when and how the disputed names entered the system.
INEC also stressed that monitoring party primaries does not give it the power to select candidates.
Oketola urged the NDC to provide evidence and identify any INEC officials allegedly involved in the purported manipulation, assuring that credible allegations of misconduct would be investigated.
The affected constituencies are Onitsha South I, Onitsha South II, Orumba North, Anaocha I, Idemili North, Njikoka I, Nnewi South, Nnewi South II, Ayamelum and Dunukofia.
INEC said it would continue to administer the electoral process in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and relevant regulations.
The dispute now turns on the nomination records, which INEC says can establish how the contested names came to appear on its list.